.- 


THE  LUMP  of  GOLD 


ESTHER  BALDWIN  FERGUSON 


GILMARTIN      COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS     :     SAN  FRANCISCO 


,  f 


.  -a. 


Copyright,  1910, 
By  Esther  Baldwin  Ferguson 


Bancroft  Library 

CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 
The  Lump  of  Gold 1 

CHAPTER  II. 
ne  Thousand  Dollars  to  the  Tabooed  Mother-in-Law      8 


CHAPTER  III. 
Golden  Twenties  to  the  Bishop 13 

•3 

CHAPTER  IV. 

•  Charity    Discourses    in    Rhapsody  the  Serfdom  of 
J        Women  and  Obtains  One  Thousand  Dollars..         23 

o 

^  CHAPTER   V. 

Qj  The  Eyes  of  the  Bride  Drenched  in  Tears 28 

O 

»J  CHAPTER  VI. 

^"   Cupid's  Disappearance    31 

CHAPTER  VII. 
The  Finding  of  Cupid 38 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Uncle's  Sacred  Coin  in  the  Hands  of  Unworthy  Fate    42 

CHAPTER  IX. 
The  Mother-in-Law's  Home  Invaded 51 

CHAPTER  X. 
Faith  Searches  For  the  Sacred  Coin  and  Receives 

Consternating  News    58 


iv  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XI.  Page 

The  Tragedy  61 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Hope  Returns  with  the  Sacred  Coin 64 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
The  Legal  Lights  Deliberate 69 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Hope's  Sister  Love  Arrives  71 

CHAPTER  XV. 
A  Royal  Wedding 86 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Man  Created  Divinely  Pure 96 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
The  Detective's  Search 98 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
The  Dying  Horse 114 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Death  Valley  127 

CHAPTER  XX. 
The  Confirmation  Dress  135 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Truth  Learns  Disturbing  Disclosures 148 


CONTENTS  v 

CHAPTER  XXII.  Page 

Attorney  Goodman  Solves  the  Mystery  of  Uncle's 

Sacred  Coin 153 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
Jeallo's  Repeated  Visit  to  Her  Aunt's  Sick  Room 160 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
Attorney  Goodman  Reads  the  Will 163 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
Truth's  Anxiety  Over  the  Missing  Coin 170 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
Charity  Philanthropically  Uses  the  Sacred  Coin 181 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
Love,  True  Love  200 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
Charity  Performs  An  Act  of  Humanity 208 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
The  Ship  Captain's  Dilemma 211 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
The  Trial  215 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
Guilty    218 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 
Uncle  Again  Meets  Miss  Faith  Fairchild . .  .224 


The  Lump  of  Gold 


CHAPTER  I. 

Since  the  days  of  1852  Uncle  had  been  a  searcher 
for  gold.  Many  times  the  god  of  fortune  had 
filled  his  coffers  with  the  glittering  metal,  which 
we  are  told  paves  the  streets  of  heaven. 

Certainly,  no  inhabitant  of  that  place  was  more 
happy  than  he  when  richly  rewarded  after  his  toil- 
some efforts  of  separating  the  debris  by  rushing  the 
water  down  the  sluice  boxes,  leaving  only  the  black 
sand  and  quicksilver,  then  delving  in  the  bottom  to 
scoop  it. 

Frequently  the  gold  was  only  dust  and  required 
the  aid  of  quicksilver,  which  separates  into  myriads 
of  tiny  balls  like  shot,  when  urged  on  by  the  swift 
current  of  water,  rolled  and  tumbled  along  the  sur- 
face and  into  every  crack,  corner  and  crevice  of  the 
boxes,  gathering  the  millions  of  minute  particles 
of  gold  in  its  embrace. 

How  Uncle's  arms  would  ache  after  shoveling, 
picking,  sweeping,  and  panning. 

1 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Ah!  the  pains  all  forsook  him  as  he  took  from 
the  pan  a  massive  lump  that  was  the  image  of  a 
large  ball  of  silver. 

Very  well  he  knew  its  value  as  reckoned  in  dol- 
lars and  cents.  Experience  had  made  him  quite  an 
accurate  guesser.  But  it  must  be  transmitted  into 
gold,  for  silver  had  not  much  value  as  worth. 

He  placed  it  in  a  retort,  and  as  the  fire  burned  it 
into  a  red-hot  heat,  he  watched  the  quicksilver  flow 
out  of  a  pipe  into  a  pan  of  water,  where  it  lay  as 
calmly  as  though  it  had  not  been  madly  rushing, 
pell-mell,  hurry-scurry,  to  grab  and  usurp  unscrupu- 
lously every  innocent,  unspotted  golden  morsel  as 
it  made  its  debut  into  the  world. 

With  satisfaction,  Uncle  took  the  lump  from  the 
retort,  and  viewed  its  brilliant,  golden  aspect.  To 
him  it  meant  a  just  and  honest  reward  for  his  labor- 
ious efforts  to  enter  the  labyrinths  and  channels, 
which  had  sacredly  guarded  their  untold  wealth  for 
ages.  His  patience  and  efforts  had  not  flagged,  and 
was  ever  on  the  alert  for  every  stratum  and  sub- 
stratum that  indicated  the  sleeping  place  of  gold. 

He  knew  that  the  grand  old  snow-formed  rivers 
from  the  high  Sierras,  which  came  roaring,  tearing, 
flashing  and  splashing  over  stupendous  precipices, 
entered  many  subterranean  vaults  of  gold,  and  dash- 
ing them  asunder,  carried  their  riches  in  its  billowy 
arm  and  distributed  them  in  many  of  its  byways, 
passages  and  gorges,  where  it  would  be  difficult 
for  even  a  necromancer  of  fate  to  find  it. 

2 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

But  Uncle's  sagacity  had  prevailed,  for  the  mag- 
nificent old  river  had  left  too  many  symbols  in  its 
wake.  And  nothing  undaunted,  he  fearlessly  pre- 
pared to  disgregate  its  hidden  treasures  with  pick 
and  shovel  in  the  hands  of  his  trusty  men,  and 
blast  the  entrance  to  the  golden  cells  with  dyna- 
mite. 

Was  he  a  robber  ?  No !  For  the  Arch  Being 
has  placed  His  riches  in  such  a  manner  that  man 
can  become  its  possessor  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow. 

Uncle  had  not  coveted  his  neighbor's  belongings, 
neither  was  he  avaricious,  but  he  was  well  aware 
that  that  lump  of  gold  was  a  sinecure  that  would 
help  pave  the  avenues  which  would  radiate  a  bene- 
faction in  the  sunset  of  his  life. 

But  how  was  he  to  keep  this  particular  gold, 
which  he  had  liberated  from  mother  earth,  free  from 
blending  with  the  contaminations  to  which  its  kind 
was  subject?  In  his  loyalty  to  benevolence  he 
soliloquized  as  he  still  held  it  in  his  hand: 

"My  beauty,  we  must  part.  I  cannot  keep  you. 
My  depleted  exchequer  compels  me.  It  is  best. 
You  have  lain  dormant  for  centuries,  but  now  you 
have  a  mission  before  you.  Shall  it  be  to  con- 
tribute to  the  morality  of  humanity,  and  help  build 
up  a  structure  of  love,  peace,  and  universal  brother- 
hood, or  shall  you  march  in  the  footsteps  of  your 
predecessors,  into  the  shadow  of  darkness  from 
which  every  vestige  of  fellow-feeling  is  eliminated, 
and  flaunt  the  finger  of  scorn  at  every  noble  deed 

3 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

performed,  and  gradually  sink  into  the  death-mire 
of  iniquity? 

"How  can  I  trust  you  to  go  unattended,  who  so 
recently  emerged  from  your  cavernous  home,  where 
all  is  quietude  and  rest,  into  the  great  arena  of 
surge,  strife,  and  ostentatious  usurpation? 

"Must  I  be  responsible  for  your  manifestos?  I 
unearthed  you  from  your  hiding  place;  I  must  be. 
Yet  I  know  so  few  whom  I  can  trust,  to  guard 
and  care  for  you  with  strict  candor  and  faith." 

Spellbound  he  stood  as  though  dreaming,  as  a 
soft,  low,  musical  murmur  reached  his  ear. 

"Whence  thy  sadness,  sire?  Me  thinks  thou  hast 
met  with  great  sorrow.  I  am  Fate,  and  at  your 
service." 

Turning,  he  met  the  glance  of  soft,  brown,  but 
rather  melancholy  eyes,  belonging  to  a  most  charm- 
ing female,  robed  in  soft  folds  with  fluffy  ruffles 
of  illusion. 

Her  voice  was  phantom-like,  but  not  discordant. 
It  appealed  to  his  present  mental  sensibility  in  a 
most  soothing  manner,  which  was  very  pacifying. 

Appearing  not  disturbed,  but  reluctant  for  digres- 
sion, yet  thankful,  he  answered :  "Not  sadness,  my 
fairy  friend,  but  a  dilemma  is  before  me  to  decide 
the  future  of  this  honestly  acquired  gold." 

With  a  laugh  that  sounded  more  like  a  sylvan 
echo  rolled  and  swirled  by  monstrous  ocean  waves 
from  turreted  castles  back  to  lofty  mountain  heights 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

— so  sweet,  so  musical,  yet  so  full  of  doom,  Fate 
answered : 

"That  is  an  easy  matter.  Place  it  in  my  charge. 
The  whole  world  is  under  my  surveillance.  For- 
tunes are  in  my  hands ;  why  not  give  me  yours  ?" 

Wrinkling  his  brow  in  a  reflective  manner,  Uncle 
recalled  that  the  result  of  Fate's  watchfulness,  which 
vibrated  through  the  very  existence  of  man,  had 
been  slack,  slight,  hit-or-miss  remuneration. 

With  a  look  of  disdain  he  responded:  "Not  for 
worlds,  for  in  you  there  is  no  choice  between  good 
and  evil." 

With  such  a  verdict,  Fate  vanished  as  noiselessly 
as  she  had  come. 

Having  determined  that  Fate  should  not  control 
its  destiny,  he  decided  to  have  it  immediately  minted, 
and  to  take  it  himself  to  make  sure  that  he  received 
coin  from  this  same  lump  of  gold,  and  not  that  which 
might  have  come  from  some  other  place,  and  when 
it  was  returned  to  him,  looking  brilliantly  lustrous 
beyond  description,  with  the  eagle  reposing  grace- 
fully majestic  on  one  side,  bearing  aloft  the  golden 
crown  set  with  the  jeweled  words,  "In  God  we 
Trust,"  he  was  highly  gratified  and  reflected :  "All 
will  be  well,  but  it  must  have  care."  And  he  com- 
prehended clearly  that  its  value  consisted  in  its 
prerogative  exchange  for  the  necessities  of  man, 
and  being  such,  he  again  soliloquized: 

"Your  golden  jeweled  crown  should  be  a  protec- 
tion to  your  magnificent  beauty.  It  is  an  ornament 

5 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

which  ought  to  commend  reverence  and  respect  and 
be  a  safeguard  into  every  exalted  walk  of  life. 

"But  you  must  be  wary.  Artifice,  deception  and 
danger  lurk  by  the  wayside  to  whirl  you  into  a  vor- 
tex so  rapidly  that  it  will  wear  away  your  crown, 
and  lose  your  jewels  in  the  caldron  of  iniquity. 

"The  just  do  not  always  escape.  Why  they  do 
not  is  one  of  the  mysteries  not  portrayed  to  man.  I 
must  embark  you  in  the  current  of  life,  but  with 
whom?  That  is  the  question." 

Again  he  was  startled  by  a  calm,  clear  voice  re- 
peating the  words :  "Let  us  draw  near  with  a  true 
heart  in  full  assurance  of  faith." 

Having  been  trained  in  orthodoxy  unconsciously 
asked  "Why?" 

"Because,  Faith  is  the  substance  of  the  things 
hoped  for ;  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen,"  was  the 
calm  rejoinder. 

Rushing  to  her,  he  exclaimed :  "Really,  then,  it  is 
faith  I  require  in  my  emergency." 

She  answered :    "It  is,  and  I  am  Faith  Fairchild." 

Scanning  her  features,  he  beheld  a  maiden  of 
quiet,  graceful  demeanor,  and  gazing  into  the  depths 
of  her  mild  blue  eyes  found  truth,  peace,  love,  har- 
mony and  trust,  and  being  robed  in  spotless  white 
linen,  signified  purity. 

Offering  his  hand  said:  "Faith,  I  welcome  you 
with  a  true  heart  and  with  the  full  assurance  that 
once  having  plighted  your  fidelity,  as  a  standard  of 
your  Christian  name,  Faith,  I  shall  have  met  the 

6 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

person  for  whom  I  have  hungered.  The  maiden  who 
is  of  a  generous,  free-hearted,  honest  frankness, 
without  gush,  guile  or  deceit,  of  whom  I  have  heard 
but  have  never  seen." 

Demurely  she  thanked  him,  and  asked:  "Gan  I 
be  of  any  service  to  you?" 

Showing  her  the  lump  of  gold,  now  turned  into 
twenty-dollar  pieces,  he  explained  his  desires,  say- 
ing: "I  am  compelled  to  give  it  into  other  hands, 
for  my  obligations  must  be  met  and  expenses  paid. 
In  my  younger  years  I  have  brought  to  light  from 
the  earth  quantities  of  gold,  but  it  never  cost  me  a 
thought  as  to  its  fflture,  whether  it  would  merge 
in  vice  or  excel  in  merit." 

Handing  the  gold  to  her,  he  said :  "Here,  Faith. 
I  give  this  into  your  custody.  I  know  you  will 
guard  it  as  though  it  had  life,  and  prove  worthy  of 
my  reliance." 

Again,  in  quiet,  measured  tones  she  repeated: 
"Faith  is  being  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for, 
and  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen  is  reliance,  but 
sometimes  a  deluge  of  the  ungodly  acts  of  human- 
ity destroy  the  pathway  in  which  Faith  walks,  ob- 
scuring the  confidences  of  her  trust  and  truthfulness, 
and  overthrowing  every  endeavor  or  effort  she  may 
have  evinced  for  the  prevailment  of  right." 

Earnestly,  Uncle  bowed  a  responsive  answer: 
"That  is  very  true  my  friend  Faith.  Evidently  I 
have  the  most  profound  confidence  in  your  ability 
to  overcome  those  obstructions,  and  believe  that  you 

7. 


v      THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

will  be  triumphant  in  maintaining  these  golden 
eagles  for  the  betterment  of  mankind." 

"Thank  you,  Uncle.  But  please  explain  more 
fully.  Do  you  present  these  coins  for  the  cause  of 
humanity  ?" 

"Unfortunately,  Miss  Faith  Fairchild,  my  cir- 
cumstances are  such  I  cannot.  Its  equivalent  in 
currency  will  answer  every  purpose  for  me,  and  I 
will  accompany  you  to  some  bank  of  strong  finan- 
cial character  and  make  the  exchange." 

Arriving  there,  the  banker  carefully  counted  the 
currency  desired,  and  as  Uncle  took  it,  remarked : 
"It  will  be  much  easier  to  stow  away.  A  tailor  can 
have  a  good  job  placing  it  in  the  inside  lining  of 
my  coat,  as  road-agents  infest  many  of  the  much- 
traveled  mountain  roads,  popping  out  at  any  mo- 
ment, and  relieve  the  traveler  of  their  valuables." 

Turning  to  Faith,  and  taking  her  hand,  he  said : 
"Providence  is  all-wise,  and  I  am  grateful  that  you 
were  sent  to  me.  I  must  hie  back  to  the  gravel 
claims,  for  my  boys,  although  trusty,  are  inexperi- 
enced. So,  craving  your  success,  I  now  bid  you 
farewell." 

CHAPTER  II. 

Dextrously,  Faith  with  the  help  of  the  banker, 
counted  and  privately  marked  the  coins,  which  num- 
bered two  hundred  twenty-dollar  gold  pieces,  and 
asked  of  him  as  a  special  favor  to  keep  them  intact 
from  other  money. 

8 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

She  explained  why  it  had  been  committed  to  her 
special  care  and  desired  his  assistance  in  disposing 
of  it  in  commendable  ways,  of  which  the  banker 
assured  her  as  he  piled  the  beautiful  new  golden 
twenties  in  rows,  and  Faith  gave  them  a  most  ad- 
miring look  as  she  took  her  departure. 

Returning  the  next  day  they  were  still  there  in  all 
their  glittering  brilliancy,  and  for  several  consecutive 
days.  Then  she  asked: 

"Why  have  you  retained  them?"  Courteously  he 
answered:  "I  have  had  various  opportunities,  but 
none  satisfactory,  Miss  Fairchild,  only  in  small  quan- 
tities. And  you  requested  that  it  should  be  let  in 
one  thousand  sums  as  being  easier  to  keep  in  tally." 

"Surely,"  she  responded,  as  he  continued.  "A 
man  came  in  today  to  borrow  one  thousand  dollars 
and  when  I  asked  for  what  purpose,  he  said,  'To 
bet  on  a  sure-win  horse  race.'  Well,  Miss  Fair- 
child,  you  see  the  coin  is  still  here,  and  I  really  be- 
lieve it  was  Mutt,  that  most  notorious  of  all  gamb- 
lers." 

Faith  exclaimed :  "Oh,  I  am  so  thankful  you  did 
not  let  Uncle's  coin  go  in  such  a  cause." 

Cleverly  the  banker  said:  "There  has  been  a 
dearth  in  business  proclivities  which  certainly  cannot 
last,  besides  many  have  been  out  of  town  taking  their 
vacation,  but  the  season  is  nearly  over,  Miss  Fair- 
child." 

He  had  scarcely  finished  speaking  when  a  silver- 
haired  old  lady  called  and  presented  a  check  for  one 

9 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

thousand  dollars,  which  she  had  received  from  her 
children. 

Smilingly  the  banker  asked:  "Do  you  want  the 
whole  in  cash?" 

"It  is  not  best,"  she  said,  "but  I  require  five  hun- 
dred at  present,  "and  her  eyes  filled  with  tears  of 
thankfulness  as  she  received  the  beautiful  coins  bear- 
ing the  golden  motto,  "In  God  We  Trust." 

Faith,  too,  shed  sympathizing  but  happy  tears,  for 
this  money  surely  would  be  spent  only  in  the  most 
needy  and  sacred  ways.  It  would  be  issued  in  the 
buying  of  bread  and  sustenances  required  for  daily 
consumption,  which  would  reach  the  man  and  beast, 
even  though  it  might  be  a  small  recompense  for 
their  many  hours  of  hard,  tedious  and  sometimes  op- 
pressively toilsome  labor. 

Surely  no  harbinger  or  precursor  of  fate  could 
ask  a  better  predestination.  The  little  emoluments 
dispensed  in  different  courses  might  promote  what 
would  be  a  successful  career  for  the  honest  worker, 
giving  his  children  food,  raiment,  books  and  educa- 
tional advantages,  thus  creating  happiness,  knowl- 
edge and  longevity. 

Graft  and  cunning  deceit,  which  are  the  pitfalls 
of  the  ungodly,  would  have  no  time  for  their  in- 
triguing intrenchments. 

The  old  lady  dropped  the  money  in  her  old-fash- 
ioned reticule,  and  Faith,  feeling  truly  grateful,  said  : 

"You  look  very  frail  my  dear  Madam.  Besides, 
some  of  these  thoroughfares  are  quite  secluded, 

10 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

therefore  dangerous  for  you  to  traverse  unattended." 

"You  are  right,"  said  the  old  lady,  "but  I  am  a 
stranger  here  and  know  not  whom  to  trust." 

"I  will  call  my  sister,  whose  name  is  Truth,  and 
that  signifies  all  that  is  pure  and  holy.  Every  sta- 
tion of  honor  and  sobriety  receives  its  illumination 
through  the  established  principles  and  fixed  laws  of 
truth." 

Extending  her  hand  as  Truth  approached,  the  old 
lady  said :  "This  must  be  one  of  the  mysterious  acts 
of  mercy  that  you,  Miss  Truth,  are  sent  to  me.  It 
is  no  fault  of  my  children  or  my  own  that  I  am  here 
alone." 

"How  is  that?"  asked  Truth,  as  she  took  hold  of 
the  old  lady's  arm,  the  better  to  assist  her. 

She  answered:  "Convalescing  from  a  severe  ill- 
ness, my  physicians  recommended  that  I  should 
travel.  Accompanied  by  my  daughter,  with  her  two 
little  children,  and  my  daughter-in-law,  we  started 
to  circle  the  globe  at  easy  stages.  In  Italy,  my 
daughter's  children  were  stricken  with  scarlet  fever, 
therefore,  remained  while  we  continued  our  jour- 
ney." 

"It  was  quite  an  undertaking,"  interposed  Truth. 

"Yes,  Miss  Truth,  but  all  went  well  until  after  we 
arrived  here.  Our  voyage  had  been  rather  tem- 
pestuous and  I  was  weak  and  wearied,  consequently 
my  daughter-in-law  procured  these  very  comfortable 
quarters  as  you  see,  determining  that  I  should  have 
a  long  period  of  rest." 

11 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Which  was  very  nice  of  her,"  said  Truth,  as  she 
seated  the  lady  in  her  easy  chair.. 

"Yes,  we  were  happy,  Miss  Truth,  but  a  telegram 
came  informing  us  that  my  son  had  met  with  a 
perilous  accident  and  his  life  was  despaired  of." 

"How  sad,"  sympathized  Truth.  "Yes,"  tear- 
fully said  the  old  lady,  "and  I  insisted  that  she 
should  go  immediately  to  him,  and  on  her  arrival 
she  wrote  the  good  tidings  that  he  was  out  of  dan- 
ger and  forwarded  this  check  to  me.  And  now, 
Miss  Truth,  if  you  will  remain  as  my  companion 
I  shall  deem  it  a  great  favor." 

"No  more  a  favor  to  you  than  me,  for  I  love  you 
already.  And  sister  Faith  can  have  her  wish  ful- 
filled :  That  I  should  look  after  Uncle's  consecrated 
gold,"  which  explanation  required  an  interpretation 
to  the  old  lady,  who  said: 

"Well,  Miss  Truth,  my  daughter-in-law  won  my 
motherly  affection,  and  I  know  that  she  will  be  grat- 
ified that  I  have  such  a  desirable  and  loving  com- 
panion." 

Laughingly,  Truth  replied:  "Then  you  are  not 
one  of  the  tabooed  mothers-in-law?" 

"No;  why  should  I  be?  A  mother's  love  is  the 
most  sacred  on  earth,  and  the  joys  of  her  children 
should  be  her  joys,  and  not  the  usurper  of  their  hap- 
piness. Why,  Miss  Truth,  it  was  ordained  that  our 
children  should  be  wedded  to  loving  companions, 
and  together  guide  their  offspring  to  the  grand  and 
illustrious  summit  of  life  while  yet  they  are  gliding 

12 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

down  the  inclining  slope  to  the  horizon,  where  the 
last  gleam  of  sunset  emits  the  still  glittering  rays  as 
that  having  characterized  their  lives  unequaled  by 
the  lustrous  brilliancy  of  the  radiantly  beautiful  dia- 
mond sunburst.  Do  you  not  call  that  happiness, 
Miss  Truth?" 

" Certainly,  but  do  you  not  feel  lonely  and  for- 
saken?" inquired  Truth. 

"Why,  no,  dear  Truth,  for  then  I  have  their  united 
affection  and  there  is  no  room  for  jealousy.  They 
arise  and  call  me  'blessed  mother.'  " 

"Which  must  make  you  very  happy,  my  dear 
lady." 

"It  is  more  than  happiness,  Truth.  It  is  bliss 
and  the  joy  we  anticipate  in  heaven.  Now,  I  will 
assign  you  to  the  room  occupied  by  my  daughter-in- 
law,  next  to'  my  own." 

CHAPTER  III. 

Truth's  constancy  was  magnetic.  The  old  lady 
seemed  to  grow  vigorous  and  thrive  under  her 
scrupulous  care,  industry  and  management. 

But  let  us  return  to  Faith  and  her  perplexing 
charge.  She  counted  days  before  another  came 
which  met  the  approbation  of  both  the  banker  and 
herself. 

One  man  wanted  to  borrow  one  thousand  dollars 
with  which  to  buy  some  town  lots  for  speculation. 
The  banker  considered  it  a  good  investment,  but 

13 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Faith  viewed  the  matter  as  a  sort  of  gamble,  or  mak- 
ing a  market  under  false  pretenses. 

The  astonished  banker  said :  "Why,  it  is  per- 
fectly legitimate.  He  expects  the  lots  to  rise  in 
value?" 

"Well,  as  I  understand  it,"  said  Faith.  "In  order 
to  boom  the  lots,  certain  prerogative  privileges  are 
quoted  as  having  been  applied  for,  which  in  them- 
selves might  be  very  unfair,  and  to  cover  this  de- 
fect and  raise  enthusiasm  much  puffy  literature  is 
given  large  circulation,  which  causes  a  big  bubble — 
and  bursts  when  the  lots  are  disposed  of  at  high 
figures. 

"Thus,  surely  the  lots  will  depreciate  and  become 
a  drug  on  the  market." 

"But  your  money  will  not  remain  in  the  hands 
of  the  man  who  borrowed  it.  It  will  have  been  paid 
out  and  be  in  circulation,"  said  he. 

Forcefully  she  retaliated:  "I  know,  and  it  would 
go  into  the  hands  of  the  grabbers  to  pay  for  the 
puffs.  I  believe  that  these  rights  of  way  and  priv- 
ileges are  only  imaginary  to  create  a  flurry  and 
flash  in  the  market,  and  this  man  wants  the  money 
to  start  the  bubblesome  boom." 

"Well,  it  is  considered  legitimate,"  the  banker  re- 
peated. 

"Granting  that,"  she  returned,  "many  with  lim- 
ited means,  desirous  with  their  carefully  hoarded 
savings,  of  providing  a  home  for  their  families,  will 
rush  in  and  buy." 

14 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Sullenly  the  banker  replied:  "He  takes  his 
'chances  with  the  rest." 

"But  he  can  ill  afford  to  do  so.  When  the  bom- 
bastic market  is  at  the  highest  point,  perhaps  is  the 
time  when  he  has  bought,  being  eager  to  possess  it 
before  the  price  should  have  risen  beyond  his  re- 
sources," retorted  Faith. 

"Then  he  would  receive  that  for  which  he  was 
seeking — a  home  place,"  the  banker  returned. 

"Not  very  well  said!  A  home  place!  It  would 
be  a  PLACE  without  a  home.  A  shackle!  For  it 
would  fetter  him  from  paying  that  much  down  and 
the  remainder  in  installments  on  a  neat  little  cot- 
tage near  his  work  and  close  for  the  children  to  at- 
tend school." 

"In  time  that  would  come,"  argued  the  banker. 

"Not  to  a  certainty,"  expostulated  Faith,  "for 
when  the  inflator  derives  his  benefit  from  the  bal- 
loonish  market  he  grandly  and  pompously  marches 
off  to  create  another  stir  in  a  new  district." 

The  banker  debated  the  point  no  longer,  but  felt 
that  Faith  was  a  little  too  scrupulous  in  the  matter, 
and  was  glad  of  a  respite  to  attend  a  Bishop  who 
was  reverenced  by  all  who  knew  him,  as  his  qual- 
ifications were  fully  up  to  the  sanctity  of  his  re- 
ligious duties. 

The  Bishop  said:  "My  parishioners  have  en- 
trusted to  my  care  a  check  for  one  thousand  dollars, 
which  I  present  to  be  cashed.  They  have  conferred 
and  decided  to  furnish  an  apartment  in  the  basement 

15 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

of  our  church  for  the  establishment  of  a  resort  for 
young  men  who  have  their  first  outgoing  from  their 
childhood's  rustic  home  and  paternal  roof,  under 
which  the  love  of  humanity  —  which  was  God's 
greatest  gift — together  with  honesty,  sobriety  and 
virtue  were  themes  not  only  taught  but  practiced. 

"It  is  to  be  a  reading  room  and  bible  class  formed 
as  well.  As  the  room  is  very  large  the  trustees 
unanimously  favored  partitioning  and  putting  in 
all  the  apparatus  and  appertenances  peculiar  to 
the  meritorious  benefit  and  entertainment  of  young 
men  after  the  completion  of  their  daily  pursuit." 

Faith  had  been  rather  absorbed  after  her  discus- 
sion with  the  banker,  yet  listened  and  calmly  weighed 
the  Bishop's  problem  in  the  balance  of  justice,  there- 
fore, smiled  an  approving  glance  as  the  banker 
handed  the  money  to  him.  But  there  was  an  in- 
ward conception  that  even  with  that  holy  Bishop, 
in  whom  she  had  perfect  trust,  there  should  be  some 
requirements  as  a  safeguard  against  guile. 

Quickly  approaching  him  she  said:  "Oh,  good 
and  noble  Bishop  those  golden  twenties  have  but  re- 
cently emerged  from  mother  earth,  and  I  am  their 
custodian  as  you  are  of  those  young  men  who  are 
entering  the  embryo  of  life.  The  excavator  in- 
structed me  not  to  let  them  go  where  hazardous  en- 
vironments would  encircle  them." 

The  Bishop,  rather  awed  by  her  zealousness,  earn- 
estly responded :  "You  may  trust  me  young  lady." 

16 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Fervently  she  replied:  "I  do  trust  you  wholly, 
but  sometimes  fate  intervenes,  so  that  I  can  only 
hope.  Yes,  hope,  and  I  must  have  my  sister  Hope 
go  with  you ;  then  I  will  have  no  apprehensions. 
She  will  be  an  assistant  to  you,  for  she  is  like  her 
name — Hope —  and  that  is  the  one  thing  in  life 
which  urges  and  helps  frail  mankind  to  climb  thy 
ladder  to  surmount  the  odious,  obstinate  obstacles 
which  crowd  the  pathway  to  fame  and  everlasting 
life." 

Clasping  her  hand,  the  Bishop  said :  "I  will  take 
your  sister  Hope  into  my  family,  and  she  shall  be 
cherished  as  a  daughter." 

Satisfied,  Faith  asked  him  to  tarry  while  she 
sought  her  sister  Hope.  Finding  her  in  the  dress- 
ing room,  Faith  gave  her  a  rapturous  kiss,  related 
her  interview  with  the  Bishop,  and  said : 

"Come,  dear  sister,  he  is  waiting  for  you." 

Never  had  Hope  been  more  joyful.  The  antic- 
ipation of  abiding  in  a  congenial  atmosphere  of 
numerical  young  men,  actively  engaged  in  the  study 
of  the  Divinity  and  nature  whose  pastimes  thus  di- 
verging from  the  rotating  series  of  transgressions, 
was  hallowed  indeed.  A  feeling  of  Spirituality  in- 
spired her  with  new  and  more  courageous  vigor. 

She  would  not  falter  in  her  requirements,  for 
had  not  Faith,  the  best  loved  and  sanctified  of  all 
her  sisters,  invested  her  with  the  most  superior 
confidence  which  could  be  placed  in  women — that 
of  undoubted  virtuous  trust?  Her  energies  must 

17 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

contribute   doubly   manifold,    for   this   was   a   task 
of  affection,  honor,  and  heavenly  reliance. 

Faith,  had  no  misgivings  as  to  the  failure  of  her 
devoted  sister  Hope,  for  she  possessed  that  qual- 
ity— hope — which  never  leaves  the  human  race  so 
long  as  intellect  remains  and  heart  pulsates,  and 
which  has  been  the  salvation  that  has  redeemed 
many  of  the  most  abased  criminals. 

Remembering  that  two  thousand  dollars  yet  re- 
mained to  be  disposed  of,  she  knit  her  brow  and 
tacitly  wished  that  she  would  be  as  fully  gratified 
with  their  assignment  as  of  the  other  two. 

"Ah,"  she  soliloquized,  "Faith  should  have  no 
repinings.  Why  make  my  name  allegorical?" 

The  banker  interrupted  her  studious  attitude  by 
requesting  her  attention  to  another  check  for  one 
thousand  dollars,  which  had  been  presented. 

Said  he:  "I  was  dubious  about  paying  it  out  of 
your  golden  fund.  The  person  offering  it  is  a 
young  lady  whose  father  reckons  his  wealth  by  the 
millions.  She  is  betrothed  to  marry  a  man  of  more 
influence  in  the  political  world  than  its  equivalent 
in  money.  In  fact,  he  requires  cash  to  balance  him 
in  his  coming  election." 

Instead  of  answering  the  banker,  Faith  advanced 
to  the  young  lady  and  said:  "I  beg  your  pardon, 
Miss.  Please  do  not  consider  me  harshly  nor  yet 
deem  me  inquisitive  or  obtrusive,  but  there  is  a 
motive  and  much  depends  upon  your  answer.  I 
ask :  What  use  is  to  be  made  of  this  gold  ?" 

18 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Laughingly  she  answered :  "Why,  for  my  special 
pin  money.  Mama  gave  me  the  check  from  her 
own  private  account  and  said:  'It  is  a  love  offer- 
ing from  your  mother  to  her  only  child  and  daugh- 
ter, and  the  last  while  yet  she  is  a  virgin.  It  is  a 
grievous  parting  and  this  little  amount  will  be  a 
souvenir  remembrance  to  be  used  for  your  own  spe- 
cial wants  during  your  wedding  trip  and  honey- 
moon.' " 

"Then  this  is  not  to  be  a  mercenary  marriage?" 
mentioned  Faith. 

"I  scarcely  comprehend  the  tendency  of  your 
question?"  curiously  answered  the  young  lady. 

Noting  her  confusion,  Faith  kindly  explained : 
"What  I  mean  by  a  mercenary  marriage,  is  one  in 
which  the  consideration  is  for  profit  in  a  pecuniary 
way,  and  used  as  a  stepping  stone  to  social  ag- 
grandizement." 

"It  is  not  the  union  of  hearts  cemented  firmly  by 
love  and  adhesive  affection,  where  the  breathings 
are  of  the  most  exhaustless  devotion,  unchange- 
able as  the  sun,  and  lasting  as  the  universe,  no  mat- 
ter if  age  dims  the  sight  and  the  silken  hair  be 
turned  into  the  finest  threads  of  silver,  and  the  cycle 
of  time  changes  the  whole  contour  of  the  figure. 

"But,  on  the  contrary,  the  most  flagrant  dissen- 
sions exist,  and  the  very  air  seems  lurid  with  stoical 
feelings  while  the  ear  is  palsied  by  the  unharmon- 
ious  clashes  of  unsavory  tumultuous  turmoil." 

"Oh,  my  dear  Madam,  I  am  affianced  to  a  man 
19 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

who  makes  me  his  idol,  and  is  devotedly  attached 
to  me.  In  fact,  he  worships  me.  Oh,  I  could 
not,  and  would  not  marry  without  love.  Why, 
every  glance  of  his  eye  reflects  the  deep  well  in 
his  heart,  filled  overflowing  with  love,  true,  holy 
love." 

Demurely,  Faith  questioned:  "Are  you  sure? 
Are  you  certain  that  it  is  not  the  undue  love  for 
your  wealth  which  he  must  possess  you  to  get?'* 

"O,  yes.  If  I  did  not  have  a  penny  he  would 
adore  me  just  the  same,"  emphatically  rejoined  the 
young  lady.  "And  I  love  him  with  my  whole  heart, 
and  give  him  my  entire  devotion,  also  would  trust 
him  with  my  very  life. 

"I  am  certain  that  nothing  can  come  between  us 
to  mar  our  happiness  when  we  both  love  so  deeply 
and  truly. 

"Oh,  he  is  so  noble  and  generous.  He  cannot 
do  enough  for  me.  You  ought  to  know  him,  my 
dear  Madam,  and  must  to  convince  you  of  his  true 
worth." 

Faith's  doubts  were  removed  and  filled  with  ad- 
miration for  the  young  lady  with  the  glow  of  such 
earnest  love  depicted  on  every  feature  of  her  face, 
hastened  to  reply: 

"We  have  not  time  for  that,  my  dear  young  lady, 
but  I  am  thankful  that  you  have  experienced  true 
love,  for  it  is  the  passport  to  heaven,  and  the  key 
which  opens  the  door  to  every  conceivable  happi- 
ness on  earth. 

20 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"What  is  it  but  'Love,'  for  'God  is  Love,'  that 
gives  us  this  grand  and  beautiful  world,  so  full  of 
luxuries  to  promote  our  wellbeing;  and  it  is  'Love* 
that  rocks  the  craddle  of  the  universe  to  inspire 
man  into  wisdom's  ways. 

"But  there  are  many  snares  to  entrap  love — 
Cupid's  love — and  it  often  requires  very  heavy  ran- 
soms to  rescue  it.  Alas !  sometimes  none  can  be 
given." 

The  banker,  much  interested  in  their  colloquy, 
perceiving  Faith's  conviction  in  the  earnestly  au- 
thenticated explanation  of  the  young  lady,  laid  the 
money  in  front  of  her,  who  placed  it  in  her  porte- 
monnaic,  thanked  the  banker,  and  turning  to  Faith, 
said:  "I  am  glad  you  have  confidence  in  me,  and 
I  will  promise  that  I  will  strictly  heed  that  not  a 
penny  of  this  money  shall  be  spent  where  I  think 
it  will  fall  into  the  hands  of  profligacy." 

"I  am  convinced  of  your  honest  intentions  by 
your  unreserved  candor.  But,  my  dear  young  lady, 
you  will  require  a  maid.  If  you  have  not  already 
selected  one,  I  would  suggest  my  sister,  Love,"  said 
Faith. 

"How  kind  of  you,  and  what  a  delightful  name — 
Love.  Cupid  has  been  frisking  around  with  his 
bow  and  arrows  and  it  must  be  she  whom  he  is 
hunting.  Mama  told  me  'ere  I  returned  to  find 
some  trustworthy  girl,  and  you  have  greatly  re- 
lieved me.  Please  may  I  see  her?" 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Turning,  Faith  replied:  "Certainly,  I  will  ask 
her  to  come  in.  Oh,  here  she  comes,"  she  exclaimed 
as  a  young  girl  entered. 

Faith  continued  as  she  placed  her  arm  around  her 
sister:  "This  is  my  sacredly  beautiful  sister  Love. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  'Order  of  Love/  the  fra- 
ternity which  is  the  oldest  in  existence,  having  been 
established  in  the  Garden  of  Eden  by  Adam  and 
Eve." 

"The  edict  that  they  should  earn  their  bread  by 
the  sweat  of  their  brow  did  not  destroy  its  pre- 
eminence, and  it  has  existed  through  the  many  in- 
tervening centuries,  although  pursued,  by  venomous 
enemies  that  have  tried  to  extinguish  it  by  the  most 
vile  transgressions  of  the  traducer." 

Faith  had  an  angelic  look  as  she  gave  utterance 
to  these  words,  and  joining  their  hands  spoke: 

"O,  sister  Love,  entwine  thyself  in  the  bands 
when  it  binds  this  young  lady  to  her  hero  lover. 
Cupid  has  been  active  with  his  arrow  in  coupling 
her  heart  to  that  of  one  of  creation's  noblemen — 
believing  that  it  will  be  cemented  by  consecrated 
devotion  and  enrolled  on  eternity's  volume,  thus 
making  it  enduring. 

"And  my  precious  sister,  Uncle's  spotless  and  in- 
nocent gold  has  been  given  as  a  wedding  offering, 
and  while  you  are  guarding  the  sanctity  of  its 
debut,  I  charge  you  be  vigilant  and  not  sanguine  or 
ready  to  yield  to  the  professed  devoutness  of  re- 
ciprocal love  purporting  to  come  from  a  true  heart. 

22 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Surely,  it  would  be  blasphemy  to  invest  you 
with  the  guerdon  of  shame,  while  you  wear  purity's 
emblem  as  a  crown  and  wield  the  sceptor  of  your 
order  over  millions  of  its  devoted  followers  that 
are  seeking  to  rescue  the  sinful  from  the  nefarious 
highway  to  ruin. 

"Your  order  teaches  that  true  love  is  under- 
valued by  the  use  of  fraudulent  manifestations, 
which  are  the  falsehood  of  sordid  characters  to  en- 
snare you  into  the  cobwebs  of  anguish  and  de- 
spair. 

"Adieu,  my  sister.  That  auriole  encircling  your 
visage  proclaims  you  a  saint,  but  the  holy  cannot 
a&vays  achieve  every  blessing.  Your  duty  lies  be- 
fore you,  and  do  not  hesitate  to  summon  your  sis- 
ter Faith  if  unsurmountable  barriers  block  your 
way. 

Love  said:  "I  will  be  an  earnest  worker,  dear 
sister  Faith,  for  the  benefit  of  the  ancestral  Order 
of  Love.  Farewell." 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Love  paused  a  moment  in  the  vestibule  to  greet 
her  sister  Charity,  who  was  just  entering  the  bank. 
She  was  loth  to  pass  so  hurriedly,  for  Charity  was 
the  noblest  of  her  sisters. 

Her  features  were  regular  in  lineament,  but 
fearless,  strong  and  firm,  yet  with  a  diction  of 
pathos  which  appealed  to  the  compassion  and  be- 

23 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

nevolence  of  those  who  were  successfully  prosper- 
ous or  who  were  in  want. 

Goodness  was  the  virtue  of  all  her  transactions. 
She  divested  herself  of  many  comforts  which  would 
contribute  aid  or  help  to  the  needy,  often  sharing 
with  them  the  last  mite,  as  did  the  widow  in  the 
Bible. 

The  name — Charity — did  her  honor,  as  it  covered 
many  benefactions,  the  least  of  which  was  the  giv- 
ing of  money.  She  condoned  the  faults  of  the 
youthful  erring  and  conferred  pity  to  the  distressed 
maiden  believing  not  wisely  in  the  constancy  of 
man,  and  appealed  for  mercy,  when  the  wronged 
one  sought  to  shorten  her  span  of  life. 

She  demurred  at  shaking  hands  with  the  be- 
trayer and  ushering  him  into  the  social  circles  where 
again  he  could  exercise  his  delusive  sophistry. 
Never  could  Charity  believe  or  convince  herself 
that  the  Omnipotent  had  been  partial  to  the  sex,  as 
evidenced  by  His  ten  commandments,  and  the  mak- 
ing of  one  heaven  to  receive  purified  souls.  She 
asked  herself:  What  of  the  debaucher  and  de- 
bauchee entering  that  place?  On  earth  he  is  re- 
ceived with  debonair  complacency,  while  she  is  rel- 
egated to  the  quarters  of  the  white  slave. 

Oftimes  when  alone  she  soliloquized:  "I,  Char- 
ity, am  a  woman  whose  nature  is  to  act  liberally,  be- 
nevolently and  favorably  toward  the  moral  ignor- 
ance of  the  misguided  of  either  sex,  but  this  state 
of  affairs  has  my  special  condolence. 

24 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"O,  why  cannot  my  own  sex  unite  in  building  a 
fortress  to  defend  womanhood  from  this  fate  of 
condemnation. 

"Not  alone  does  the  white  slave  suffer  ignominy 
even  though  ostracized  and  consigned  by  the  laws 
to  special  street  quarters,  but  the  community  at 
large  is  permeated. 

"Parents  live  in  deathly  fear  that  their  innocently 
bred  and  doted  offsprings,  just  entering  the  bound- 
ary of  maturity,  therefore,  believing  in  their  own 
infallibility,  may  by  the  many  enticing  devices  be 
allured  into  the  place  of  sin. 

"Frequently  mothers  are  at  fault  for  allowing 
their  daughters  from  infancy  to  be  clasped  pro- 
miscuously in  the  osculatory  embrace  of  the  oppo- 
site sex  that  in  its  abnormal,  selfish  and  uncon- 
trolled state  is  woman's  most  dreaded  antagonist 
and  fiercest  foe.  Ignorantly  innocent  through  child- 
hood days,  into  maturity  the  maiden  assumes  dis- 
cordantly indiscreet  judgment  and  ere  the  mother 
is  aware  her  adored  daughter  is  installed  in  the 
ranks  of  the  white  slave. 

"Women  are  clamoring  for  suffrage.  The  time 
may  be  far  hence,  but  that  need  not  deter  them 
from  rallying  around  the  flag  of  state — the  stan- 
dard of  which  is  held  by  their  fathers,  brothers,  hus- 
bands and  sons — and  insist,  yea,  demand  that  the 
white  slave  with  her  noxious  obligated  domicile 
headquarters  be  abolished. 

25 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

This  really  is  the  one  unfortunate  evil  which 
is  so  degrading  to  women  and  making  of 
them  stigma  serfs.  No  wonder  they  are  re- 
sorting to  extravagant  means  to  obtain  suffrage, 
and  it  should  be  theirs  unless  this  terrible  evil 
be  obliterated.  Should  they  gain  it,  their  higher 
education  should  consist  in  striving  for  degrees  of 
the  most  elevated  strength  of  character,  making 
virtue  the  absolute  standard  in  support  of  that  glor- 
ious flag  which  waves  not  only  for  the  freedom  of 
a  few,  but  all. 

"Decades  of  centuries  the  daughters  of  Eve  have 
lived  in  penance.  Their  fault  is  being  condoned. 
The  state  of  lethargy  is  being  lifted  and  by  valiant 
effort  the  brand  can  be  removed  and  their  escutcheon 
made  manifest  with  God's  pleasure. 

"Certainly,  already  He  has  lent  His  divine  bless- 
ing, else  still  woman  as  an  entirety  might  be  lurk- 
ing in  a  dormant  condition  in  the  murky  pool  of 
ignorance.  Why,  it  is  but  a  few  short  years  since 
they  began  to  emerge  from  their  dark  obscurity  and 
their  brains  permitted  to  expand.  But  they  have 
battled  their  antagonisms  and  are  keeping  step  by 
step  in  college  lore,  literature,  professions,  the  ave- 
nues of  toil  and  the  independence  of  livelihood.  Not 
being  satisfied  they  are  reaching  toward  the 
sciences,  where  myriads  of  the  sterner  sex  of  the 
most  lofty  and  superior  minds  only  have  dwelt.  At 
the  present  day  those  learned  men  strain  their  eyes 

26 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

in  wonder  and  surprise,  and  shake  their  heads  in 
prophecy  at  the  heights  their  sisters  might  attain." 

Charity,  being  a  mentally  born  enthusiast  waking 
or  sleeping,  these  rhapsodies  were  uppermost  in  her 
mind,  and  they  had  been  particularly  profound  on 
this  morning  she  had  met  her  sister  Love  in  the 
corridor  of  the  bank. 

After  her  speedy  greetings  with  Love,  Charity 
still  continued  her  engrossing  reflections  and  ap- 
proached her  sister  Faith  as  she  entered  the  bank. 

"Dear  sister,  my  spirits  have  been  much  exercised 
with  my  life  work.  The  upbuilding  of  Womanhood 
and  Humanity,  and  I  find  much  in  embryo. 

*'A  great  work  is  before  me  and  I  am  afraid  that 
I  shall  have  passed  through  the  gates  into  my  ever- 
lasting dwelling  place  without  having  accomplished 
my  imposed  undertaking.  Nevertheless,  I  shall  per- 
severe, like  the  school  boy  who  starts  his  tiny  snow- 
ball, which  at  first  makes  very  little  development, 
but  as  he  continually  keeps  rolling  and  tumbling  it 
along,  around  posts,  pillars  and  other  various  ob- 
structions it  attains  mammoth  proportions,  which 
require  the  aid  of  his  whole  class  to  keep  in  rotund 
motion." 

Said  Faith:  ''Earnest  endeavors  as  are  yours, 
sister  Charity,  are  certain  of  making  successful 
issues,  and  your  life  work — now  in  embryo — will 
be  an  everlasting  monument  to  your  glory." 

"Thank  you,  Faith.  My  errand  here  was  to  pre- 
sent this  check  of  one  thousand  dollars,  which  the 

27 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Humane  Society  instructed  me  to  use  as  alms  for 
the  really  destitute  and  indigent  poor,  not  through 
their  indolent  and  extravagant  profligacy,  but  by 
uncontrollable  adverse  circumstances,  and  with  no 
near  relative  to  sustain  their  wants. 

Joyfully  Faith  responded :  "Surely,  this  is  a  God- 
send which  will  take  the  last  of  Uncle's  purity 
gold." 

As  Charity  passed  out  Faith  turned  to  the  banker 
and  said:  "Now  I  am  at  rest." 

Little  did  she  know,  with  her  invincible  individ- 
uality that  her  greatest  responsibilities  had  just  com- 
menced, for  she  must  contribute  her  aid  to  the  in- 
exorable efforts  which  she  had  invested  her  sisters, 
Love,  Hope,  Truth  and  Charity,  to  maintain  the 
integrity  of  "Uncle's  Virgin  Gold." 

She  was  fully  endued  with  faith — but  can  faith 
always  acquire  the  reward  of  which  she  is  in 
quest  ? 

Again  returning,  Charity  asked :  "Will  you  come, 
sister  Faith,  and  assist  me  for  a  time,  for  I  shall 
require  faith  which  is  of  your  spirit  in  my  efforts 
to  find  honest  poverty." 

CHAPTER  V. 

Together  the  sisters,  Faith  and  Charity,  delved 
through  all  the  avenues,  streets,  and  passages  of 
the  great  city  for  several  weeks.  The  decidedly 

28 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

poor  was  not  by  any  means  the  minor  quantity,  but 
the  minor  quality. 

To  a  few  of  the  number  they  were  on  the  point 
of  delivering  funds  requisite  to  their  needs,  when 
the  sisters  decided  to  probe  yet  a  little  deeper  into 
their  poverty.  And  in  every  instance,  so  far,  out- 
side of  those  the  societies  had  under  their  own  spe- 
cial charge,  they  found  defective  and  unworthy  ex- 
postulations of  indigence. 

One  woman  whiningly  announced  that  she  had 
not  the  means  with  which  to  buy  food  for  herself 
and  family,  declaring  the  crust  of  bread  and  rind 
of  bacon,  which  she  displayed,  was  all  they  had  in 
their  larder;  that  her  children  were  without  shoes 
and  the  necessary  clothing  for  winter,  and  there 
was  no  one  to  provide  or  assist  her. 

Upon  investigation,  they  found  that  this  very  wo- 
man had  a  bank  account,  having  been  her  deceased 
husband's  legacy — but  was  miserly  and  avaricious, 
and  made  the  same  plea  to  every  offer  of  persons 
charitably  inclined. 

Nevertheless,  the  sisters  presevered,  but  found  not 
one  satisfactory  case,  and  had  concluded  to  extend 
their  researches  to  some  other  locality  or  city. 

On  the  eve  of  their  departure,  Faith  went  to  the 
postoffice  and  received  a  letter  from  Love,  asking 
her  to  come  to  Chicago  with  all  possible  speed,  for 
the  bride's  eyes  were  drenched  with  tears.  She 
wrote : 

29 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"All  had  been  happiness,  affection,  and  love, 
until  one  day  in  Chicago,  a  few  weeks  after  their 
indefinite  location  there,  the  husband  being  in  a 
quandry  about  raising  some  money,  of  which  he 
was  in  pressing  need,  came  home,  and  in  his  per- 
plexity thought  to  get  the  pin  money  of  his  wife. 
At  first  he  was  persuasive,  then  plaintive,  and  after- 
wards raved.  Oh !  words  cannot  explain  it.  I  am 
so  grieved.  Oh !  come  to  me,  my  darling  sister 
Faith,  for  I  am  weary  and  alone.  Come  quickly. 
Yours  trusting  sister  LOVE." 

Faith  folded  the  letter  in  the  envelope  and,  re- 
tracing her  footsteps,  made  a  brisk  walk  back  to 
their  living  rooms. 

Charity  had  made  everything  ready  for  their  de- 
parture and  prepared  a  dainty  evening  repast. 

As  Faith  entered  arid  noticed  the  preparations, 
she  repeated  a  Bible  verse:  "All  things  work  to- 
gether for  good  to  those  who  love  the  Lord,"  for  I 
must  eat  and  away. 

"Here ;  read  this,  meanwhile,  which  will  explain," 
handing  Love's  letter  to  her  sister. 

After  reading,  Charity  said :  "The  Limited  Ex- 
press is  due  in  one-half  hour.  You  will  have  ample 
time  to  catch  it,  if  you  do  not  tarry  too  long. 

"Here  are  your  gloves.  I  will  assist  you  to  carry 
the  suit  case,  and  we  can  deliberate  on  the  way  as 
to  the  best  course  for  my  work." 

Said  Faith:  "My  beloved  sister  Charity,  Faith 
can  only  say:  'Follow  the  dictates  of  your  own 

30 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

worthy  and  loyal  conscience,  which  none  but  Charity 
and  the  true-hearted  can  possess." 

Charity  clearly  responded:  "So  be  it,  and  when 
shall  we  meet  again?" 

Faith  replied:  "Charity  and  Faith!  There  is 
an  adherence  between  them;  there  can  be  no  real 
separation.  Though  distance  intervenes,  a  mental 
telegraphy,  which  is  the  spontaneous  reverberating 
of  the  spiritual  soul  for  soul,  unites  them  in  their 
righteous  cause. 

"Here  is  the  train,  dear  sister  Charity.  Though 
our  bodies  are  laid  in  the  dust,  you  and  I  shall  al- 
ways live,"  and  she  clasped  her  sister  Charity's 
hand  fervently  for  an  instant,  then  boarded  the 
Limited  Express,  which  bore  her  away  with  light- 
ning dispatch. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Arriving  in  Chicago,  as  she  stepped  from  the 
train,  Faith  espied  her  sister  Love  standing  in  an 
unobserved  space,  and  noting  her  pale,  careworn 
look,  hurriedly  folded  her  to  her  bosom  in  an  af- 
fectionate embrace,  exclaiming :  "Love,  my  precious 
sister  Love,  why  this  pallor?" 

Love  answered :  "I  cannot  explain  explicitly.  My 
heart  is  sore  and  grieved." 

"But  why  are  you  alone?  Why  is  not  Cupid  in 
attendance?  He  should  be  here,  for  he  is  the  god 
of  Love.  Has  he  forsaken  you?"  rapidly  inquired 
Faith  in  undisguised  concern. 

31 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Faintly  Love  moved  her  lips  and  the  soft,  mellow 
sound  which  issued  forth  was  like  the  refrain  from 
the  soughing  gentle  zephyrs  as  the  orb  of  day  sinks 
to  rest,  dropping  the  evening  shades,  producing  a 
shadowy  light,  which  discloses  a  dome  studded  with 
millions  of  brilliantly  lustrous  and  scintillating  gems, 
whose  twinkling  and  dancing  rays  illumine  the  whole 
nebulae  of  space  and  which  astronomers  call  worlds 
of  vast  proportions.  Thus,  love — true  love  is  de- 
fined. 

*'My  darling  and  precious  sister  Faith  of  such 
true  fidelity  and  belief,  I  must  answer  you,  that  I 
know  not.  He  has  disappeared  without  a  mo- 
ment's warning  and  my  researches  have  all  been 
in  vain." 

And  then  Faith  said:  "But  we  must  find  him. 
There  is  no  happiness  on  earth  for  Love  without 
Cupid  and  his  arrows.  Rest  here  while  I  seek  him." 

"Nay,  nay !  I  cannot.  I  must  go  with  you,  Faith, 
for  he  may  have  received  a  wound  from  one  of  his 
arrows  which  only  love  can  heal." 

They  boarded  an  auto,  which  glided  rapidly  with 
no  apparent  effort,  except  the  summoning  forth  of 
a  hissing  sensation,  much  as  a  rattlesnake  giving  the 
alarm,  "Beware  of  me;  my  bite  is  death." 

On,  on  they  flew  through  the  grand  city,  whose 
structures  meant  accumulated  wealth,  until  they  had 
reached  the  habitations  of  those  who  had  amassed 
the  riches  to  construct  such  ponderous  edifices. 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

They  alighted  before  one  of  the  most  pretentious 
of  these  residences,  which  the  politician  had  leased, 
as  being  adequate  from  a  social  point  of  view  to 
gain  votes,  which  was  ever  his  inward  homily — 
meanwhile  asserting  profusely  to  his  bride,  that  he 
had  provided  this  palatial  home  as  befittting  the 
child  of  her  father's  millions,  and  his  own  devotion 
and  unalloyed  love. 

Timidly  Love  rang  the  doorbell,  and  was  courte- 
ously received  by  the  servant,  who  smilingly  recog- 
nized Love,  and  said :  "You  are  tired  ?" 

"Yes,  I  am  very  weary,  but  can  I  go  to  my  lady. 
My  sister  Faith  is  here  with  me." 

The  servant  replied:     "I  shall  go  and  see." 

Returning,  she  said :  "My  mistress  is  ailing  and 
requests  that  you  come  up  to  her  rooms." 

Love  said:  "Thank  you,  I  know  she  must  need 
me.  Come  Faith,  it  is  folly  for  me  to  go  alone. 
Really,  Sister,  it  is  faith  that  her  aching  heart  re- 
quires and  is  its  only  panacea,  for  she  has  been  de- 
frauded by  the  love  of  man,  and  with  Cupid  gone, 
it  is  doubtless  if  I  can  instill  her  with  the  power  of 
love,  evermore." 

Silently  Faith  followed  her  sister  through  the 
many  richly  appointed  and  magnificently  hung  up- 
holstered halls  and  rooms,  containing  unparalleled 
paintings  and  priceless  statuary. 

Never  before  had  Faith  entered  a  home  with  such 
elegant  surroundings,  yet  she  appreciated  it  as  be- 
ing the  web,  woof  and  workmanship  which  pro- 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

vided  the  necessities  of  life  for  the  diligent  poor. 
She  deemed  horded  money  of  no  advantage,  and 
that  it,  within  itself  had  no  intrinsic  value.  Its  im- 
portance, being  only  real  when  requisite  to  pro- 
cure the  essential  commodities  efficient  for  the  grat- 
ification of  the  wants  of  mankind. 

They  ascended  a  flight  of  stairs  and  soon  entered 
a  boudoir  of  exquisite  silken  hangings  and  estab- 
lished order,  where  happiness  should  have  ruled 
supreme. 

A  lady  was  reclining  in  an  easy  chair  with  her 
feet  on  the  fender  of  the  grate,  trying  by  artificial 
means  to  diffuse  into  them  the  warmth  that  had  once 
pulsated  with  every  throb  of  her  heart  and  ran 
rioting  through  her  veins,  casting  a  ruddy  glow  over 
the  whole  system,  which  by  the  throes  of  anguish 
and  despair  was  now  frigidly  numb. 

Tearfully  Love  glided  to  her  and  threw  her  arms 
affectionately  around  her  neck,  asking:  "Oh,  my 
dear  lady,  did  you  miss  me  ?  Your  maid,  Love." 

Furiously  she  tore  herself  from  the  embrace, 
arose  and  scornfully  said:  "Love!  Miss  Love? 
No,  emphatically  no.  Love  is  delusive." 

"Surely,  surely  you  are  mistaken,"  said  Love. 
"The  embodiment  of  our  very  being,  it  was  intended 
should  be  incorporated  with  love  and  was  one  of 
Divine  gift  and  blessing." 

Thoughtfully  the  lady  answered:  "I  once  had  a 
very  tender  feeling  which  was  like  the  sunbeam 

34 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

gleaming  on  the  dew  drops  that  nourished  a  delicate 
little  tendril  as  it  peeped  from  its  embryo  in  the  soil, 
imparting  to  it  a  vitality  which  strengthened  into 
vigorous  growth  anad  developed  a  flower  which  in 
its  purity  was  as  spotless  as  the  lily;  but  a  tornado 
from  the  snow-bound  regions  came  and  exhaled  its 
icy  breath  over  its  delicate,  translucent,  but  firm  and 
lasting  texture,  congealing  it  so  that  no  sunbeam 
could  restore  it  to  its  wonted  grace,  but  cause  it  to 
wither  and  droop,  therefore  turning  it  into  an  ob- 
stacle of  scorn  which  admits  of  no  love/' 

Again  Love  tried  to  approach  her,  but  recoiled  in 
grief  as  she  saw  the  despondent,  dejected  face  of 
her  lady  with  savageness  beaming  from  her  eyes. 
Yet  she  strove  once  more  to  comfort  the  agonized 
soul. 

"My  dear  lady,  do  not  send  me  away  or  extrude 
me — Love — who  would  be  happy  to  restore  your 
own  true  love,  which  was  the  fountain  of  thy  life. 

"It  is  as  the  fragrance  quaffed  from  that  delicate 
flower  and  can  do  much  to  alleviate  your  sufferings. 
It  is  nurtured  as  by  the  gentle  zephyrs  that  will 
embrace  and  strengthen  you,  coming  from  a 
heavenly  clime,  where  there  is  no  deceptive  atmos- 
phere, conjuring  you  to  believe  that  the  dew  drops 
which  enveloped  your  lily  white  flower  were  those  of 
faithful  love,  when  they  were  but  the  globules  fall- 
ing from  an  icicle,  drop  by  drop,  tempering  them 
into  the  mingling  elements  of  love  until  the  orb  of 
day  passed  its  zenith  and  revolved  to  the  horizon, 

35 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

carrying  its  warmth  into  the  shades  of  oblivion. 
Then  it  was  that  your  god  of  love  was  sacrificed  on 
the  altar  of  ambition's  greed.  But  my  dear  lady, 
might  not  there  be  a  root  or  even  a  seed  left,  which, 
by  affection's  offering  to  your  husband,  might  yet 
be  cultivated  into  a  spontaneous  growth  that  no 
chilling  blasts  could  cause  to  decay?  Then  the 
warmth  of  love's  devotion  would  be  fanned  by  those 
ardent  zephyrs  from  the  heavenly  clime  and  engross 
your  souls  with  the  raptures  of  love — true  love — 
which  never  chills  the  heart  or  agonizes  the  body." 

Cheered  by  her  compliant  attitude,  Love  con- 
tinued: "My  sister  Faith  is  with  me,  and  will  help 
expunge  all  your  wrongs  and  assuage  your  woes/' 

A  maniac's  piercing  cry  and  anguished  raving 
could  not  have  been  more  excruciating  or  penetrat- 
ing than  was  hers,  as  she  shouted : 

"Faith?  I  want  naught  of  her.  It  was  she  who 
exacted  of  me  a  promise  to  expurgate  that  money 
and  duped  me  in  my  simplicity  and  trustful  love  to 
extol  my  matrimonial  alliance  with  my  idolatrous 
god  by  guaranteeing  that  we  were  to  sail  by  the  ship 
of  love  on  the  waters  of  a  cloudless  sea." 

"Not  duped,  my  dear  lady.  You  misunderstood 
her,"  said  Love.  "Faith,  my  sister,  was  responsible 
for  the  expenditure  of  that  money,  and  only  wanted 
you  to  use  it  judiciously  for  your  own  requirements. 
She  is  inflicted  with  much  mental  pain  that  your 
marriage  should  have  terminated  into  sorrowful 
anguish,  and  it  is  her  endeavor  to  invest  you  with 

36 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

the  quietude  and  repose  which  comes  from  faith  in 
the  Holy  One  as  being  your  arbitrator." 

Faith  advanced,  holding  out  her  hand  in  greeting, 
but  the  lady  clasped  hers  behind  her,  laughing 
hoarsely : 

"Ha,  ha,  ha !  Why  does  she  not  calm  the  ocean's 
waves  ?  Repose !  Do  the  demons  in  Hades  have 
repose?  Faith!  I  tore  faith  from  my  escutcheon 
when  Cupid,  the  god  of  love,  fled.  And  I  want  you, 
Miss  Love,  no  longer  as  my  companion,  for  I  have 
another  now,  the  demon's  daughter,  Hate,  and 
together  we  will  march  under  the  banner  of  Re- 
venge." 

Astonished  beyond  measure,  they  retreated  toward 
the  door,  and  Faith's  mind  whisperings  were: 
"Can  this  transformation  into  a  demon  be  the  beauti- 
ful young  lady  whose  soulful  eyes  enlisted  my 
utmost  confidence,  and  every  feature,  wish  and  will 
was  wrapped  in  the  most  holy  fervency  of  sacri- 
ficing loyalty  to  her  affianced  hero  lover?  What 
had  become  of  that  devoted  and  heavenly  look?  It 
was  as  the  adoration  of  angels,  and  inspired  awe 
with  celestial  desires." 

Faith  could  not  comprehend  it  Had  Cupid  been 
derelict  in  his  duty?  He  was  the  god  of  love  and 
had  sole  dominion.  He  should  have  exemplified  his 
superiority  and  banished  every  intruder. 

Again  Faith  said:  "Please,  dear  lady,  I  do  not 
solicit  or  seek  to  obtain  or  intrude  on  your  con- 
-  37 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

fidence,  but  can  you  tell  me  why  Cupid  let  enemies 
penetrate  his  kingdom?" 

Vindictively  she  answered:  "Cupid  is  a  fraud. 
He  was  the  messenger  who  conveyed  the  strategy 
to  get  my  money.  I  want  naught  of  him.  He  is  full 
of  deceit." 

"But  really,  how  can  this  be?  And  where  is  he?" 
persistently  inquired  Faith. 

With  a  malignant,  fiendish  laugh  the  lady  shouted : 
"Ask  Cupid  when  you  find  him.  I  do  not  know 
where  he  is." 

Faith  asked:  "Will  you  grant  us  the  privilege 
of  searching  your  premises  for  him?" 

Reluctantly  she  nodded  an  assent. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Sorrowfully  Faith  and  Love  retired.  Walking 
down  the  long  hall,  Faith  said :  "It  is  my  belief  that 
Cupid  is  not  far  away,  but  we  will  descend  this  stair- 
way. Ah !  here  is  a  cloak  room  at  the  foot ;  let  us 
look  in." 

Sure  enough,  they  were  rewarded  by  finding 
Cupid  secreted  in  an  obscure  corner,  being  too  crest- 
fallen to  hie  far  distant.  He  was  no  longer  the 
pompous,  debonair  or  puffy  god,  but  woe-begone 
and  disconsolate.  The  arrows  which  remained  in 
his  quiver  was  in  confused  order.  His  wings  were 
drooped,  and  blood  was  oozing  from  a  wound  in 
his  side. 

38 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

• 

Love  knelt  beside  him,  crying :  "Oh,  Cupid ! 
Why  have  you  forsaken  me?  I  am  powerless  with- 
out you." 

Sadly  smiling-,  he  answered :  "No,  Love.  I  could 
not  do  that,  for  we  are  irrevocably  united  by  bonds 
which  cannot  be  severed.  I  stayed,  thinking  Peace 
might  lurk  around  and  need  me  to  aim  my  bow  and 
arrow  to  recapture  the  departed  love  as  the  rupture 
was  being  healed,  when  in  rushed  Hate,  with  her 
canting,  corrupting,  viperish  virus  and  vitiated 
purposes." 

Faith  interrupted.  ''But  you  are  bleeding,  Cupid. 
How  did  you  receive  your  wound?" 

Faintly  he  answered :  "I  had  made  the  attempt  to 
retain  the  two  hearts  through  which  my  arrow  had 
pierced.  In  one  the  seat  of  affection  was  void  of 
love  and  filled  with  mercenary  profit,  otherwise  Hate 
could  not  have  come  in  and  unstrung  them.  And  in 
the  struggle  she  thrust  me  perniciously  with  the 
point  of  the  arrow  as  she  released  the  deceitful 
heart." 

"Really,  it  is  deplorable,"  said  Faith.  "But  Love, 
your  queen,  who  can  heal  all  wounds,  is  here  waiting 
for  you  and  is  the  only  balm  you  require.  Fraud 
and  Love  can  be  united  no  more  than  quicksilver 
and  water.  But,  Cupid,  about  the  money,  Uncle's 
pure  and  inoffensive  coins.  Where  are  they?  Can 
you  tell  me  about  them?" 

"I  can,"  responded  Cupid.  "I  was  there  and 
heard  the  politician-husband  caressingly  ask  his  wife 

39 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

for  her  one  thousand  dollars,  to  use  as  a  beginning 
in  his  election  career. 

"Placing  her  beautiful  arms  around  his  neck,  and 
caressingly,  she  said:  'Oh,  my  dear  love,  I  cannot 
let  you  have  that. 

"  'Why  not?'  he  asked. 

"  'Because,  dear,  mama  said  for  me  to  keep  it 
for  my  own  personal  use,  as  it  was  her  last  gift  to 
me  before  I  took  another  name.  Then,  too,  I  made 
another  promise,'  and  she  sweetly  told  him  of  the 
assurance  she  had  made  to  you,  Miss  Faith. 

"Very  angrily  he  exclaimed :  'That  is  just  like  the 
ninny  you  are,  to  make  such  a  heathenish  promises.' 

"Her  face  grew  scarlet,  and  she  said :  'But  I  had 
the  right.  It  was  my  own  money.' 

"He  retored:  'You  are  my  wife  now  and  prom- 
ised to  obey  me,  therefore  I  demand  it.' 

"Flaming  at  the  insult,  his  wife  reiterated:  'I 
explained  to  you  my  promise  to  keep  it  intact  by 
using  it  for  my  own  simple  wants  and  of  the  gift  out 
of  my  mother's  own  dower  to  her  virgin  daughter, 
and  it  is  an  unpardonable  affront  for  you  to  ask  it 
of  me  and  much  greater  offense  to  demand  it. 
Marrying  you  did  not  make  me  your  slave,  and  by 
the  laws  of  God  and  man  you  have  not  the  right  of 
exaction.' 

"With  a  curse  he  responded :  'But  what  of  your 
vow  to  obey  me?' 

"Her  wrath  was  furious  as  she  proclaimed:  'I 
vowed  to  obey  your  love,  which  you  so  profusely 

40 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

and  fervently  declared,  and  not  your  tyranny. 
Never  will  I  yield  to  your  abusive  demands.' 

"He  interrupted  her  with  base  maledictions  and 
curses;  denounced  her  father  because  he  had  in- 
vested the  daughter's  marriage  portion  in  interest- 
bearing  bonds,  payable  quarterly  to  her,  and  left 
entirely  to  her  discretion  what  disposition  should  be 
made  of  it,  thus  denoting  his  admissibility  of  a  mer- 
cenary marriage. 

"Stung  by  disappointment  and  chagrined  beyond 
measure  that  he  could  not  command  the  money  for 
which  he  had  planned  and  of  which  present  circum- 
stances required  the  immediate  necessity,  he  lost 
entire  control  of  his  emotions,,  and  like  a  madman 
shouted : 

"  'Your  father  thought  to  make  me  a  member  of 
his  serfdom,  thus  kneeling  as  a  serf  at  your  feet. 
But  thanks  to  the  marriage  bond  you  are  mine. 

Not  yield  to  me,  you  say  ?  By you  do  not  have 

to  concede,  for  you  are  mine.  The  law  gives  me 
possession  of  you,  and  your  money  shall  be  mine, 
too,  and  I  will  have  it!'  he  shouted,  as  he  made  a 
dash  for  the  porte-monnaic  in  the  the  escritoire. 

"She  clutched  him,  screaming:  'But  I  did  not 
promise  or  vow  "With  all  my  worldly  goods  I  thee 
endow/'  but  you  did  vow  to  endow  me  with  all  thy 
worldly  goods.' 

"  'Now  where  are  the  two  thousand  dollars  you 
had  when  we  arrived  here?' 

41 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

'  'Why  do  you  take  my  pin-money  when  you  have 
that?' 

"He  yelled:  'None  of  your  business,  my  fine 
lady !'  disengaging  himself  by  hurling  her  to  the 
floor. 

"Then  it  was/'  said  Cupid,  "that  I  received  my 
stab,  for  Hate  rapidly  glided  in,  leaving  the  door 
ajar,  and  I  made  my  escape." 

"But  Cupid,  did  the  politician  get  the  money, 
Uncle's  sacred  money?"  anxiously  inquired  Faith. 

"Yes,"  he  answered.  "As  I  was  making  my  way 
into  the  cloak-room  I  halted  at  the  door  as  I  heard 
footsteps,  and  saw  the  politician  pass  with  purse  in 
hand  and  rush  through  the  hall  into  the  street." 

"Then,"  said  Faith,  "we  must  not  linger  here, 
sister  Love.  We  must  hasten  to  its  rescue  before  it 
reaches  its  doom  of  condemnation  of  which  Uncle 
spoke.  Come,  sister.  Cupid  has  found  your  love 
an  infallible  remedy,  so  that  he  can  follow  at  his 
will." 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Entering  the  street,  Love  asked:  "Faith,  why 
did  the  politician  take  his  bride's  wedding  present 
and  pin-money  when  he  had  so  much  of  his  own 
and  really  had  vowed  to  endow  it  to  her?" 

"That  is  truly  inconceivable,"  said  Faith,  "and  we 
must  unravel  the  inducement,  for  Uncle's  sacred 
money  is  at  stake." 

42 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"But  how  are  we  to  solve  it  in  this  great  city, 
with  so  many  avenues  of  resources?"  asked  Love. 

Faith,  as  though  soliloquizing,  answered :  "Wor- 
thy and  true  fidelity  always  receives  its  reward, 
being  guided  by  some  unknown  or  invisible  method 
of  instinctive  power,  which  is  another  of  the  great 
mysteries. 

"Here,  Love,  let  us  board  this  auto,  which  will 
the  more  rapidly  bear  us  to  the  vicinity  which  is 
principally  the  rendezvous  of  men." 

They  rode  on  and  on.  Love,  somewhat  restored, 
sat  viewing  the  great  thoroughfares,  crowded  with 
tumultuous  people,  marching  hither  and  thither, 
each  marking  a  particular  ambitious  tendency, 
whether  it  be  for  weal  or  woe. 

Tremulously  she  asked  of  Faith :  "How  can  you 
know  where  to  go?" 

"I  can  only  trust  to  the  great  guide  of  the 
promptings  of  truth.  We  will  ask  the  chauffeur  to 
pass  the  political  headquarters  and  the  principal 
center  of  business  transactions,"  said  Faith. 

It  was  not  long  ere  they  noticed  but  few  women 
among  the  passers  by,  so  Faith  said:  "Let  us 
walk  now ;  possibly  we  may  meet  the  politician." 

It  was  difficult  to  make  headway,  the  crowd  be- 
came so  dense.  "Look,  Faith,  at  that  stately  build- 
ing ;  the  throng  seems  to  make  that  their  intermedi- 
ate point." 

43 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"There  will  be  no  harm  for  us  to  look  in,  too," 
said  Faith,  as  they  entered  the  big  doors.  Suddenly 
a  sound  reached  their  ears. 

"Oh,  Love,"  said  Faith,  "does  not  that  sound  like 
the  shrieking  of  vultures  as  they  tear  their  prey  in 
pieces  ?  There,  there !  That  screech,  screech,  clink, 
clink.  It  must  be  eagles.  Oh,  sister,  can  it  be  pos- 
sible that  uncle's  coins  with  their  precious  motto, 
'In  God  we  Trust,'  are  enlisted  in  such  a  hetero- 
geneous tumult  ?  None  but  rapacious  tyrants  would 
unconcionably  usurp  the  ostensible  purpose  of  that 
holy  ensign  in  their  unmerciful  strife  for  unright- 
eous gain. 

"Come,  Love,  come;  follow  me.  Let  us  make 
haste." 

Moving  forward,  they  entered  the  building  and 
turned  into  an  ampitheater-like  gallery,  occupied 
mostly  by  women,  overlooking  a  pit  of  vast  dimen- 
sions, filled  exclusively  with  men. 

The  clamoring  was  almost  deafening.  Faith  had 
read  of  the  screechings  of  that  emblematical  bird, 
the  eagle,  while  seeking  prey,  and  she  could  but 
liken  them  to  these  human  beings  after  their  booty 
of  gold. 

The  vociferously  repeated  yells  impregnated  the 
whole  area  with  a  hoarsely  rasping  shriek — sending 
it  ringing  and  seething  through  the  head,  which 
made  the  very  brain  turbulent  as  though  it  were  the 
riotous  clashing  of  the  ungodly  weapons  in  warlike 
strife. 

44 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Faith  felt  baffled  and  contemplated.  "Should  I— 
Faith — who  so  full  of  faith  and  fullness  of  promise 
— become  frustrated,  thus  making  me  fallible? 

"True  faith  never  wavers  but  endures  to  the  end, 
even  though  it  be  bitter.  My  destiny  is  to  seek  and 
give  aid  to  the  vacillating  whose  walk,  leading  to 
the  happier  life,  has  been  filled  with  quagmires  and 
burthensome  loads,  making  a  barrier  almost  im- 
passable. 

"When  they  are  disheartened  and  about  to  aban- 
don it,  having  arrived  at  the  forks,  they  cast  one 
lingering,  hesitating  glance  at  the  divergent  roads 
ahead  and  with  exulting  smile  and  hastening  foot- 
steps seek  the  broad  and  alluringly  brilliant  one,  not 
noting  that  it  terminates  in  an  awful  abyss — then  it 
is  I,  Faith,  who  gently  leads  them  back  to  the  nar- 
row way,  with  one  hand  on  their  shoulder  and  the 
other  with  index  finger  pointing  straight  ahead  to 
the  emergency  of  the  boundless,  interminable  and 
glorious  life  of  everlasting  joy,  telling  them  that 
true  faith  can  bestow  fortitude  to  reach  that  spiritual 
place.  And  now,  have  I,  too,  arrived  at  the  forks 
where  lies  the  stumbling  stone  of  destiny?  Shall 
my  footsteps  falter  and  belie  my  appointed  state? 
I  answer  no,  a  thousand  times,  for  faith  is  one  of 
the  benedictions  given  to  the  universal  race.  Alas ! 
why  do  not  they  all  accept  it?" 

Love  briskly  shook  Faith's  arm,  which  brought 
her  out  of  her  reverie,  and  in  an  inaudible  tone  said : 

45 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Look,  look !  Faith.  There  is  the  politician  stand- 
ing in  the  gallery  quite  near  us.'' 

"Oh,  dear  Love,  I  am  so  thankful.  Perhaps  after 
all  that  money  is  safe,  as  he  does  not  seem  inclined 
to  go  down  in  that  dreadful  pit  crowded  with  dis- 
torted, struggling,  writhing,  perverted  humanity 
who  seem  to  be  in  an  uproar." 

"See  them  bustling,  pulling  and  crowding.  It  is 
a  perfect  incarnation  of  a  pandemonium.'' 

Almost  stupefied  with  pity,  Love  said:  "Faith, 
Faith>  is  there  no  remedy  or  panacea  for  those  tor- 
tured, suffering  people?'' 

"I  am  afraid  not,  Love,  for  they  are  afflicted  by 
the  overwhelming  desire  to  gain  money,  either  by 
fair  means  or  foul.  Immense  fortunes  are  made  or 
forfeited  in  a  few  hours'  time.  Surely  the  poli- 
tician, with  an  earnest  desire  to  stand  truly  to  his 
platform  and  honestly  serve  the  people  who  are  to 
cast  their  votes  for  his  election,  would  not  mingle 
his  manly  qualities  among  those  rapacious,  grasping 
men,  much  less  invest  his  money  without  a  shadow 
of  security.  But,  Love,  this  pit  really  is  only  a  place 
of  tear,  tell,  and  I  will  add,  yell,  for  not  a  dollar  is 
brought  to  view  in  their  transactions.  Therefore 
it  would  be  a  difficult  matter  to  find  uncle's  marked 
coins  should  an  investment  have  been  made." 

Suddenly  they  became  auditors  of  a  conversation 
between  the  politician  and  his  companion,  which 
they  were  unable  to  avoid  had  they  desired,  for  the 

46 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

crush  had  become  weighty  and  wedged  the  speakers 
in  juxtaposition  with  Faith  and  Love. 

"I  say,  Langford,  that  was  a  pretty  big  deal  you 
had  the  other  day,  and  just  before  your  election 
time,  too." 

"Well,  not  very.  I  only  put  in  two  thousand 
dollars,  but  I  required  more  money  as  my  election 
was  at  stake,  so  I  thought  I  would  risk  it." 

''Did  you  get  your  wheat  to  fill  all  right?" 

"No.  It  had  all  been  grabbed  before  I  arrived  at 
the  warehouses.  There  was  not  a  bushel  left,"  said 
Langford. 

"Why,  how  was  that?  They  said  the  warehouses 
were  abundantly  filled.  Yes,  overflowing  they 
called  it." 

"Yes,  that  was  what  was  said  in  the  pit,"  replied 
Langford ;  "but  the  news  came  from  India  that  there 
was  an  entire  failure  in  this  season's  wheat  crop,  and 
thousands  rushed  to  the  warehouses  and  filled  their 
orders,  therefore  speeded  their  wheat  on  to  India 
as  fast  as  electricity  and  ships  could  carry  it. 

"The  excitement  was  exhilarating  and  contagious, 
and,  my  urgent  need  for  money  being  uppermost  in 
my  mind,  I,  too,  became  enthused,  especially  as 
wheat  was  so  rapidly  advancing  in  price,  and  just 
dropped  my  two  thousand  in  to  double  it  or  sell  it 
while  yet  on  the  rise,  not  expecting  to  call  for  the 
wheat. 

"But  a  sudden  drop  in  the  prices  compelled  me  to 
go  after  it,  so  I  rushed  to  the  warehouses  as  the 

47 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

others  had  done,  but  there  was  none.  It  was  all 
gone." 

"Well,  well!  did  it  not  jar  you?"  asked  his  com- 
panion. 

"Yes,  greatly,  but  I  had  no  time  for  expostula- 
tions, for  the  flurry  had  revived.  Some  of  the  in- 
siders were  in  for  a  very  large  amount  and  were  not 
ready  for  the  bears.  So  the  bulls  kept  bellowing 
until  the  price  was  marvelous. 

"I  danced  for  joy  and  did  not  sell,  as  many  thou- 
sands were  added  to  my  account  already  and  the 
excitement  ran  so  high  I  thought  the  bears  had  no 
show  at  all,"  explained  the  politician. 

"Ho,  ho!  that's  the  reason  you  did  not  sell.  But 
how  was  you  caught?"  asked  his  companion. 

"Well,  you  see,  the  bulls  bellowed  fiercely  until 
they  had  disposed  of  their  very  last  lot." 

"Had  they  the  wheat  to  fill  their  orders?" 

"Oh,  no,"  responded  the  politician.  "It  was  only 
a  myth,  as  was  mine,  but  their  money  was  in,  don't 
you  see?" 

"Ah,  ha !  yes ;  and  they  were  on  the  inside  of  the 
workings,  while  you  were  outside  and  knew  nothing 
of  them?" 

"That  was  just  it.  And  the  very  next  morning 
a  telegram  was  exhibited  which  had  arrived  the  day 
before,  when  a  slight  fluctuating  fall  in  the  prices 
occurred,  but  the  bulls  wanted  to  unload  at  high 
profits  and  have  the  sport  of  seeing  the  fall,  so  they 
retained  the  message  until  the  following  day,  when 

48 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

they  explained  aloud  that  the  Argentine  Republic, 
the  great  wheat  mart  of  the  world,  had  shipped  her 
wheat  to  India. 

"Her  crops  had  yielded  an  overabundance  and  she 
had  contracted  with  India  to  receive  all  her  surplus, 
consequently  our  wheat  would  be  a  drug  on  the 
market  there,  which  caused  a  great  slump  in  the 
prices. 

"I  had  bought  at  the  inflated  prices,  but  could  get 
none  to  fill.  Even  the  farmers  held  what  they  had 
and  threw  none  on  the  market.  I  thought  it  was 
unprecedented,  but  afterwards  knew  it  to  be  of 
frequent  occurrence." 

"But  was  there  no  recourse  for  you  to  get  your 
money  back?" 

"Oh,  no,  no!"  said  the  politician.  "When  you 
place  your  money  in  the  hands  of  the  brokers  for 
investment,  you  pay  your  brokerage  and  are  sup- 
posed to  stand  your  profits  and  losses." 

"It  was  an  unlucky  deal,  surely,"  sympathized  his 
companion.  "But  is  there  no  way  to  get  even?" 

"I  hope  so.  In  order  to  retrieve  my  losses,  I 
placed  one  thousand  dollars  to-day  in  the  hands  of 
my  broker  to  help  play  me  even.  And  I  have  just 
been  quietly  looking  on  or  standing  aloof  to  let 
them  work  the  game,"  he  replied. 

Faith  shuddered  when  she  heard  the  last  remark, 
for  it  must  be  that  those  precious  twenties  had  gone 
into  the  hands  of  the  unscrupulous  wheat  brokers. 

49 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

She  knew  they  were  reckless,  heartless  and  merci- 
less and  that  their  dealings  were  purely  gambling. 

Homes  were  wrecked,  families  ruptured,  suicides 
frequent,  wage  earners  unable  to  procure  bread  for 
their  families  when  the  bellowing  bulls  buoyed  the 
price  of  wheat  beyond  their  limited  purse — and  it 
revealed  to  her  the  necessity  of  taking  immediate 
action. 

Love  had  not  been  able  to  restrain  her  tears  during 
the  conversation  of  the  two  men,  for  it  was  this 
same  money  god  that  had  wrought  such  havoc  in 
the  home  of  her  loved  lady. 

Faith  soothingly  put  her  arm  around  her  sister, 
and  together  they  tusseled  through  the  crowd  and 
sought  a  seat  in  a  quiet  corner,  where  they  could 
rest  and  collect  their  jaded  thoughts.  And  Love 
said: 

"Faith,  the  old  maxim,  do  you  remember  it, 
'Money  is  the  root  of  all  evil'?  has  been  fully  demon- 
strated to  us  to-day,  and  the  politician's  avowal  fully 
explains  why  Hate  reigns  as  companion  in  his 
household  at  the  exclusion  of  Love — where  happi- 
ness had  completed  a  most  charming  circle." 

"My  precious  Love,"  said  Faith,  drawing  her 
closer,  until  Love's  head  rested  on  Faith's  shoulder, 
"those  falling  tears  as  they  roll  glistening  from  your 
eyes — the  eyes  of  love — are  like  the  unblemished, 
priceless  pearls  which  are  heaved  from  the  bosom  of 
the  great  mother  ocean — so  dainty  and  delicate,  and 
denote  purity  of  heart  and  purpose. 

50 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Please  do  not  blur  their  beauty  by  dropping 
them  on  the  altar  of  Hate,  for  Cupid  still  has  many 
arrows  in  his  quiver  and  thy  pearls  should  make  a 
circlet  enchaining  the  hearts  pierced  by  his  gentle 
missive  weapons. 

"Love,  dear,  we  must  not  tarry  here,  for  matters 
of  greater  magnitude  await  us.  We  must  rescue 
those  innocent  golden  coins  from  the  clutches  of 
unworthy  fate." 

CHAPTER   IX. 

Days,  months  and  even  years  have  rolled  by  since 
Faith  and  Love's  visit  to  the  Chicago  pit.  Even 
Truth  with  her  magnetic  charm  had  quietly  pur- 
sued her  way,  habitually  making  her  abode  with  the 
silver-haired  old  lady,  taking  an  interest  in  and  look- 
ing after  her  belongings  with  the  most  considerate 
kindness. 

The  golden  twenties,  too,  especially  received  her 
marked  attention  and  strictest  care  as  to  their  dis- 
bursement. 

With  kindly  tact  she  had  ingratiated  herself  into 
the  old  lady's  confidence,  and  at  the  slightest  indi- 
cation of  illness  Truth  was  the  first  to  detect  it  and 
was  ever  on  the  alert  to  render  assistance,  soothe 
and  lull  her  to  ease  and  rest.  Thus  Happiness,  being 
the  associate,  was  the  most  efficacious  sovereign  in 
the  household  and  ruled  it  to  the  highest  degree, 

51 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

thus  filling  the  declining  years  of  the  lonely  old  lady 
with  perfect  peace  and  loving  friendship. 

Truth  had  written  frequent  consoling  letters  to 
Faith,  and  often  had  waited  for  no  reply,  as  she 
knew  that  Faith  was  immersed  in  deep  concern  over 
the  sacred  commission  entrusted  to  her  charge.  Viva- 
ciously she  wrote,  which  cheered  Faith  to  renewed 
buoyancy  in  the  researches  of  her  disheartening  task. 
One  day,  having  crooned  a  subdued  lullaby  which 
acted  as  an  anodyne  to  assuage  restlessness  and  the 
dear  old  lady  had  succumbed  to  sleep  conducive  to 
health,  Truth,  as  usual  when  exuberantly  overflow- 
ing with  joyful  delight  and  love  for  quietude,  sought 
her  writing-desk  and  headed  her  tablet : 

"My  Dear  Sister  Faith:  What  felicity  and 
ecstasy  is  this  life  of  ours?  The  vocabulary's 
diction  cannot  answer  the  question  or  express  the 
rapture.  It  is  not  as  the  gayety  of  the  butterfly,  for 
that  is  superficial,  but  as  the  very  quiescence  of 
bliss." 

Suddenly  the  tones  of  the  piano  greeted  her  ear. 
"Ah,  some  one  is  playing,"  she  said  aloud,  "I 
wonder  who  it  can  be,"  laying  her  pen  down  to 
listen. 

"What  is  she  playing?  The  touch,  I  should  say, 
is  that  of  a  woman  and  the  irregularity  of  composi- 
tion a  fantasia,  but  there  is  no  melody  in  those  jerky, 
jarring  tones.  Why,  it  is  a  perfect  extravaganza ! 

"My,  oh,  my!  How  can  such  discordant  runs 
originate  from  that  grand  piano  forte  which  my 

52 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

dear  old  lady  had  so  perfectly  tuned  last  week? 
Well,  I  will  not  listen,"  and  she  wrote : 

"You  must  forgive  me  if  all  my  variant  moods 
are  inscribed  here.  An  infraction  has  entered  and  is 
sounding  the  announcement  from  the  keys  of  the 
piano  forte,  which  has  deprived  me  of  my  equilib- 
rium and  made  me  restless.  In  fact,  all  my  abilities 
are  disarranged. 

"There  was  such  peaceful  satisfaction  here  with 
no  dissenting  events  to  write  to  you,  my  dear  sister, 
to  increase  your  anxiety.  Oh,  oh !  how  can  I  write 
when  that  playing  fills  every  space  and  corner  of 
this  room,  turning  every  atom  of  tranquility  into 
turmoil?" 

Throwing  clown  her  pen,  she  said :  "Well,  I  am 
compelled  to  hearken." 

"Compelled,  did  I  say?"  Is  it  possible  to  con- 
ceive Truth  as  being  subservient  to  vile  demonstra- 
tions and  forced  to  yield  her  dominant  courage  to 
the  unsavory  and  unreasonable  acts  of  incongruous 
natures  in  a  vacillating  manner? 

With  determination  she  again  wrote :  "Oh,  sister 
Faith,  the  usurper  of  our  sweet  and  quiet  monotony 
is  making  the  piano  ring  with  the  most  intense  in- 
harmonious and  unmusical  sounds  which  my  ears 
greet  with  repugnance.  Nevertheless,  Truth  will 
not  be  abased  nor  yet  unstrung  by  its  impetuous 
vibrations,  but  will  graphically  chronicle  the  dis- 
sonant sounds,  even  though  it  racks  my  soul,  while  I 
cannot  restrain  my  ears  from  hearing  it. 

53 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Still  there  is  no  cessation,  and  the  diversity  of 
tones  render  the  translation  as  being  full  of  dis- 
agreement, variance,  dispute,  quarrel  and  strife, 
sharp  and  dissonant.  Why,  the  very  furies  of  utter 
darkness  must  be  dancing  on  those  keys. 

"And  now  a  'mezzo/  meaning  sadness,  is  being 
played,  and  the  emanations  from  that  exquisite 
piano  are  capable  of  instilling  me  with  pathetically 
mournful  awe  and  conveying  my  very  being  into  the 
land  where  in  our  dreams  we  wander  among  the 
graves  of  our  deceased  loved  ones,  but  instead  they 
are  revolting  and  shock  the  nerves  as  being  equiva- 
lent to  the  sound  of  a  lost  soul  in  the  infernal  regions 
— where  supposition  teaches — dwells  the  diabolical 
spirits  of  the  once  incarnate — who  is  hoarsely  striv- 
ing to  gain  breath  for  one  more  effort  to  ask  for 
deliverance,  although  ages  had  been  spent  in  crying 
for  redemption. 

"Ha!  and  now  comes  a  'pianissimo,'  with  inten- 
tions of  being  extremely  'soft  and  soothing.'  But 
oh,  horrors !  it  is  as  the  last  exertion  with  a  wheez- 
ing sensation  of  that  anguished  soul,  as  he  vainly 
and  agonizingly  struggles  to  make  one  more  plea 
for  mercy  before  reaching  what  is  imparted  to  us 
as  being  the  place  of  inevitable  condemnation  to 
everlasting  punishment  after  the  doom  of  death. 

"And  which,  dear  sister,  can  you  believe  is  really 
more  terrible  than  is  the  retribution  of  a  stricken 
conscience — which  must  be  the  soul  that  has  luxuri- 
ated in  the  excesses  of  infamy  and  crimes  of  the 

54 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

deepest  gore,  adroitly  setting  aside  with  blasphemy 
the  commands  of  God  and  mandates  of  man,  thus 
ignoring  justice  while  treating  it  as  an  object  of 
ridicule  with  the  most  exhaustless  energy.  Surely 
at  this  moment,  dear  sister,  I  feel  that  I  am  being 
overcome  with  agony,  not  that  of  a  convicted  con- 
science but  a  relentless,  infernal  spirit  conveyed  by 
the  extravagant  modulations  of  mockery  from  what 
should  be  the  dulcet  tones  of  that  piano. 

"And  now  comes  the  'cadenza !'  Jam,  rattle, 
thrash,  bang!  I  must  close  my  letter  and  seek 
peace  of  mind  or  madness  will  conquer  my  power 
of  volition. 

"I  wonder  who  can  produce  such  sounds?  No- 
body but  a  virago  surely.  I  have  heard  of  persons 
performing  with  such  heartiness  that  their  souls 
appeared  elevated  to  the  heavenward  precinct,  but 
these  demoniacal  expressions  carry  one  reluctantly 
into  the  depths  of  the  Satanic  regions.  My  nerves 
are  all  in  a  quiver.  I  must  bid  you  adieu,  for  Truth's 
communings  should  be  sacred  and  void  of  all  that 
is  evil.  Evidently  our  happy  domicile  is  invaded, 
but  with  no  kindred  spirit  of  clemency. 
"Your  loving  sister, 

"TRUTH  FAIRCHILD." 

"P.  S. — I  will  add  that  you  may  not  suffer  undue 
anxiety.  The  dinner  bell  rang  and  I  hurriedly  ad- 
justed my  attire  and  hastened  to  my  lady's  room, 
placed  my  filial  kiss  on  her  cheek,  and,  as  she  smil- 

55 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

ingly  looked  at  me,  I  said,  'As  I  am  an  orphan  I  love 
you  as  a  mother.' 

"Completing  her  toilet,  as  usual  I  offered  my  arm 
for  support,  when  a  lady  came  bustling  in,  and, 
pushing  me  aside,  said  commandingly :  'This  is  my 
aunt  and  /  will  take  her  in  to  dinner !' 

"Dazed  I  stood,  but  not  in  awe.  Truth  accepts  no 
dread  of  contention  which  seeks  to  obliterate  her 
nor  being  furiously  forced  aside  by  pertly  inter- 
ference when  valor  is  at  stake.  Therefore,  I  per- 
tinaciously escorted  my  aged  invalid  to  her  accus- 
tomed seat  at  the  table. 

"Kindly  she  introduced  the  newcomer,  saying: 
'My  dear  Truth,  this  is  the  daughter  of  my  step- 
sister. We  call  her  Jeallo,  as  being  an  abbreviation 
of  the  name  Jealousy  and  easier  to  speak.' 

"Scarcely  acknowledging  my  presence,  she  quickly 
responded :  'And  I  have  come  to  live  with  you  my 
aunt,  and  see  that  you  are  well  cared  for.' 

"Noticing  the  rebuff,  the  old  lady  responded 
quietly :  'But  I  shall  always  keep  Truth,  too.' 

"Darting  me  an  acrimonious  look,  Jeallo,  like  a 
base  sycophant,  in  fawning  tones,  reminding  me  of 
the  discordant  notes  of  the  piano,  said :  'But  aunt, 
you  must  love  me  best,  and  7  will  superintend  your 
affairs  while  she  attends  to  her  servant  duties.' 

"I  must  confess  that  it  required  all  my  force 
of  character  to  resist  making  a  tart  reply,  and  the 
deep-drawn  sigh  from  the  old  lady  entered  the  seat 
of  my  affection  just  in  time  to  prevent  my  keen  an- 

56 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

swer  to  such  an  imperious  and  implacably  officious 
guest. 

"Well,  this  has  been  a  lengthy  postscript.  But 
what  a  change  can  be  produced  in  a  few  short  hours  ? 
In  my  opening  address  in  this  letter  my  life  was 
redundant  with  the  sunshine  of  love,  and  now  I  am 
transposed  and  tempest-tossed.  But  truth  is  the 
light  which  radiates  the  universe,  being  a  benedic- 
tion for  the  benefaction  of  its  inhabitants ;  therefore, 
dear  sister,  I,  Truth,  must  not  falter  or  deviate  from 
the  duty  and  trustful  care  of  my  lonely  old  lady. 

"Bless  her,  she  has  a  few  hundred  left  of  the 
'sacred  coin,'  but  with  care  will  be  adequate  for  a 
good  length  of  time.  I  know  you  will  charge  me 
to  be  wary  when  I  tell  you  that,  my  writing-desk 
being  near  the  door,  which  was  open,  I  inadvertently 
overheard  Jealousy  tattling  to  the  maid,  who  was 
tidying  the  room,  that  her  aunt  had  fallen  heir  to  an 
immense  fortune  left  by  her  bachelor  brother,  who 
had  recently  died  in  distant  parts,  she  being  his  only 
relative. 

"This  explains  Jealousy's  sudden  infatuation  for 
the  lonely  old  lady,  whose  ears  are  now  being  filled 
with  her  deceitful,  honeyed  words. 

"Oh,  sister  Faith,  another  terrible  sorrow  has 
come  to  us  in  connection  with  our  holy  sister  Hope, 
who  could  be  guilty  of  no  crime.  Yet  all  the  peri- 
odicals are  teeming  with  it,  as  you  can  see,  therefore 
I  need  not  write. 

57 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"For  comfort's  sake  I  would  rush  to  her,  but  my 
duty  calls  me  not  to  jeopardize  that  dear  old  lady, 
and,  as  you  know,  Hope  always  has  truth  as  her 
watchword,  therefore  right  will  certainly  prevail.  I 
know  not  when  I  can  write  again,  but  always  believe 
me,  as  ever, 

''Lovingly  your  sister, 

"TRUTH  FAIRCHIUX" 

CHAPTER   X. 

Faith  had  no  ease  of  mind — waking  or  sleeping — 
after  she  had  heard  the  politician's  denouement  in 
the  Chicago  pit.  She  spent  her  time  assiduously  the 
next  morning  visiting  the  brokers  among  whom,  she 
presumed,  the  man  in  his  crazed  ambition  for  emi- 
nence had  cast  that  precious  gold.  Readily  they 
would  manipulate  it  in  speculations,  no  matter  of 
what  kind  or  how  many  fortunes  of  others  were  in- 
volved, providing  the  returns  were  maximum. 

At  last  chance  partially  favored  her.  In  the  after- 
noon, having  visited  many  offices,  entering  one  she 
asked : 

"Will  you  kindly  inform  me,  as  a  matter  of  im- 
portance, if  Langford,  the  politician,  has  at  recent 
date  deposited  any  money  with  you  for  investment  ?" 

Replying,  the  broker  said:  "Yes,  a  small 
amount/' 

"Please  pardon !  I  fancy  some  of  the  coins  are 
marked.  Can  I  see  them?"  asked  Faith. 

58 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Going  into  his  private  office  he  took  from  the  safe 
a  bag  of  money,  saying:  "My  safe  being  strong 
and  business  rushing,  I  have  not  as  yet  deposited 
this  in  the  bank,  consequently  we  can  inspect  it." 

They  found  ten  marked  twenties,  which  Faith 
readily  recognized  as  being  "Uncle's  sacred  coins." 

At  that  moment  a  messenger  boy  entered  with  a 
note  from  the  broker's  wife,  which  he  read,  then 
counted  two  hundred  dollars  and  handed  them  to  the 
boy,  remarking :  "Money  for  my  wife,  who  is  much 
interested  in  her  domestic  duties." 

Quickly  Faith  exclaimed:  "Sir,  will  you  please 
substitute  these  marked  coins,  which  will  then  go 
into  legitimate  trade  ?" 

Laughingly  he  acquiesced.  Thanking  him,  she  re- 
tired to  the  street,  well  pleased,  yet  anxious  over  the 
remaining  amount. 

Other  offices  in  the  jurisdiction  were  sought,  even 
the  bank  in  which  the  politician  had  made  former 
deposits,  but  with  no  avail.  Yet  her  faith  did  not 
falter  or  fluctuate,  for  was  not  this  the  substance  of 
things  not  seen — and  month  after  month  rotated  in 
ceaseless  search. 

Being  satisfied  that  it  remained  no  longer  irr  the 
city's  confines,  she  wended  her  way  to  New  York, 
where  in  Wall  Street  she  had  the  reliance  that  she 
would  find  it,  as  it  is  the  great  center  and  culminat- 
ing point  into  which  innumerable  divarications  with 
less  pretentious  dealings  are  merged,  thus  control- 
ling vast  millions  in  the  brokerage  system. 

69 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Perceiving  the  enormous  mass  from  which  to 
liberate  "uncle's  unsophisticated  gold,"  Faith  re- 
flected. It  may  be  a  life's  undertaking,  but  the 
shepherd,  when  he  had  lost  a  lamb  from  his  flock  of 
ninety  and  nine,  did  not  desist  from  his  search  in 
the  mountain  gorges  and  glades  until  he  had  found 
it. 

As  usual,  having  dropped  into  the  Postoffice  for 
her  morning's  mail,  she  received  Truth's  disturbing 
letter.  Of  late,  having  read  only  the  newspaper 
articles  which  might  be  a  benefit  to  her  cause,  im- 
mediately she  bought  some  periodicals  and  found 
the  information  for  which  she  searched  to  be  very 
consternating  and  oppressive. 

Her  faculties  seemed  confounded  that  Hope,  her 
angel  sister  and  the  very  embodiment  of  a  saint, 
was  arrested  and  charged  with  murder.  Faith,  in 
her  first  delirium  of  frenzy,  felt  that  she  must  fly 
to  her  relief. 

"But,"  said  she,  ''that  would  be  the  mode  of  con- 
firming my  belief  in  her  guilt.  "Ah,  I  will  send 
Miss  Joy,  her  close  and  most  trusted  friend,  to  keep 
her  company.  They  are  soul  of  one  soul  and  im- 
part mirth,  gladness,  pleasure  and  blissful  happi- 
ness to  the  most  afflicted,  dejected  and  despondent 
natures. 

"Truth  does  not  write  with  her  usual  vivacity. 
She  is  overtaxed  with  care  and  her  letter  is  per- 
plexing, but  I  can  render  her  no  assistance.  Besides, 
my  own  affairs  are  pressing  and  require  my  earnest 

60 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

attention,  since  I  am  convinced  that  no  legal  penalty 
can  be  measured  out  to  my  adorable  and  guilelessly 
conscientious  sister  Hope." 

CHAPTER  XL 

Miss  Joy,  having  received  Faith's  letter,  lost  no 
time  in  going  to  the  Bishop's  house,  and,  a  maid 
answering  her  ring,  asked :  "Will  you  kindly  guide 
me  to  Miss  Hope's  room?" 

In  surprise,  the  maid  answered :  "Miss  Hope  has 
not  been  here  since  the  murder." 

"Murder?"  exclaimed  Miss  Joy. 

"Yes,  the  Bishop's  murder.  It  was  very  sad,  and 
he  is  now  lying  in  state  in  the  parlor." 

Finding  the  maid  not  very  communicative,  and 
too  stunned  to  ask  more  questions,  Miss  Joy  de- 
parted, wondering  at  the  strange  turn  of  affairs. 
She  had  returned  that  morning  from  a  lengthy  visit 
with  friends  in  the  mountains  and  had  missed  the 
current  news. 

On  her  way  to  visit  Hope  her  mind  had  been 
absorbed  in  figuring  out  the  comprehension  of 
Faith's  enigmatical  letter.  Scarcely  in  a  conscious 
manner  she  had  noted  the  newsboys'  shouting  yell, 
"Extras,  the  Bishop's  murder,"  not  thinking  that  it 
was  the  dear  and  reverened  one  with  whom  her 
loved  friend,  Hope,  lived. 

Buying  a  paper,  the  immense  type  of  bold  head- 
lines glared  the  announcement  and  startling  declara- 

61 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

tion  that  the  Bishop  had  been  shot  by  some  one, 
who  had  also  committed  an  act  of  burglary.  There 
was  a  clue  and  the  police  were  diligently  on  the 
search. 

Hearing  the  report  of  a  pistol,  the  special  police- 
man had  entered  the  house  by  means  of  his  night- 
key,  turned  on  the  electricity,  rushed  through  the 
hall  into  the  library,  where  he  found  the  Bishop  lying 
on  the  floor,  weltering  in  pools  of  blood. 

It  was  a  bewildering  spectacle,  but  the  sound  of 
footsteps  reached  his  ears,  and  he  saw  a  figure — 
that  of  a  woman  with  disheveled  hair — fleeting 
through  the  room  and  out  of  a  back  door  of  the 
library,  shutting  it  after  her,  and  heard  the  noise  of 
the  street  door  as  it  mechanically  closed  with  a  bang. 

He  took  cognizance  that  the  safe  door  was  open 
and  contents  missing.  Turing  on  the  police  alarm 
brought  them  in  haste,  but  no  further  clue  was 
found  and  the  deputies,  having  been  relegated  to 
every  quarter  of  the  city,  met  with  no  better  success. 

The  wildest  confusion  reigned  and  everybody 
was  in  anxious  anticipation  of  having  the  horrible 
problem  solved.  Why  had  Miss  Hope  Fairchild  dis- 
appeared? Could  it  be  she  that  had  committed  so 
dastardly  a  crime?  was  the  oft-repeated  question. 

They  were  loth  to  suspect  her,  for  she  had  won 
the  confidence,  respect  and  affection  of  all  who  had 
known  her  by  exemplary  habits,  modest  demeanor 
and  Christian  fervency. 

62 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Never  had  she  been  known  to  be  aggressive  or 
encroach  on  the  rights  of  others.  As  if  by  magic  the 
wants  of  her  friends  were  anticipated  and  her  loved 
ones  by  adoption  were  legions.  As  that  of  her  name 
— Hope — she  imbued  them  with  a  preconceived  idea 
and  desire  for  good  to  come,  with  the  full  expecta- 
tion of  obtaining  it,  thereby  allowing  no  dispiriting 
and  discouraging  elements  to  enter  their  daily  life. 

With  a  will,  they  exerted  every  endeavor  to  ex- 
onerate Miss  Hope  from  the  suspicion  of  having 
committed  the  deed.  The  strength  of  the  entire 
police  force,  assisted  by  the  citizens,  worked  with 
zeal  to  unravel  the  lowering,  mysterious  aspect. 

Undetermined  as  to  the  proper  course  to  pursue, 
after  reading  the  account  of  the  terrible  tragedy, 
which  acted  as  a  dearth  to  her  mirthful  nature,  Joy 
telegraphed  to  Faith  for  instructions,  and  received 
the  answer: 

"Go  to  her,  Miss  Joy.  You  are  the  stamen  and 
support  of  Hope,  and  in  this  hour  of  her  distress  it 
is  only  you  that  can  furnish  her  the  aid  to  maintain 
her  habitual  striving  with  joyful  expectations  for 
priceless  happiness. 

"Every  lineament  and  attitude  of  her  existence 
portrays  her  spiritual,  hopeful  and  heavenly  long- 
ings. She — my  doubly  blessed  sister  Hope — has 
vanished,  but  I  know  not  unworthily,  though  under 
the  blemish  of  murderous  guilt.  Therefore  you  will 
find  her,  for  Joy  and  Hope  cannot  be  disjoined." 

63 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 
CHAPTER  XII. 

Reading  Faith's  dispatch,  Joy  said  :  "Well  Hope — 
as  her  name  signifies — is  not  mystical  but  distin- 
guishingly  characteristic  and  limitless.  I  will  await 
his  pleasure." 

The  Bishop's  funeral  was  attended  by  an  immense 
concourse  of  people,  forming  an  imposing  and  sol- 
emn procession.  Tears  of  real  sorrowing  dropped 
from  numerous  eyes  when  his  spiritless  body  was 
lowered  in  the  receptacle  of  solitude,  where,  after 
mouldering  decay,  mother  earth  would  again  claim 
her  son. 

Many  were  the  conjectures  as  to  the  inhuman 
wretch  that  had  stilled  the  heart  of  that  righteous 
man  and  sanguinely  desired  a  full  penalty  for  the 
deed. 

Though  buried  the  Bishop  ceased  not  to  live  in 
the  hearts  of  his  followers,  who  anxiously  desired 
the  capture  of  the  guilty  and  egregious  miscreant, 
whoever  it  might  be. 

Uneventful  weeks  revolved  and  now  nothing  was 
added  to  mark  their  course.  With  the  alertness  of 
so  many,  surely  the  evasion  of  arrest  was  miracu- 
lous. 

Among  the  multitude  Miss  Joy's  was  the  only  face 
that  was  not  doleful,  and  displayed  gladness  of 
heart. 

She  had  no  credence  that  Hope — depicted  as 
being  beautiful  and  sanctified — could  condescend  or 

64 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

stoop  to  plunder,  much  less  deprive  a  human  being 
of  life.  She  had  lapsed  into  quietude ;  but  as  heaven 
eventually  would  reveal  the  faithful — so  would 
Hope  make  known  her  motive. 

One  day  the  special  policeman  who  had  been  first 
at  the  scene  of  tragedy  was  meditatively  sauntering 
by  the  Bishop's  residence  when  he  looked  up  and 
met  the  glance  of  a  young  lady  with  sparkling  eyes 
and  exquisitely  moulded  form,  which  he  knew  only 
too  well  and  recognized  as  being  Miss  Hope,  hold- 
ing a  package  in  her  hand. 

The  recognition  being  mutual,  smilingly  she  ex- 
claimed: "O,  Mr.  Policeman,  see.  I  have  it — 
Uncle's  'Sacred  Money' — the  golden  twenties  that 
read  'In  God  We  Trust,'  which  sister  Faith  gave  in 
my  charge." 

Truly  the  policeman  was  astonished  by  such  au- 
dacity and  unexpected  meeting.  In  tones  of  exas- 
peration he  asked: 

"Where  did  you  get  it  ?  And  how  came  it  in  your 
possession?" 

Calmly  she  replied:  "Why,  the  robber  chieftain 
gave  it  to  me." 

"The  robber  chieftain?"  said  the  policeman. 
"Where  is  he?" 

Candidly  she  answered:  "Why,  Mr.  Policeman, 
he  asked  me  not  to  tell,  but  I  did  not  promise." 

Authoritatively  he  demanded:  "But  you  must 
inform  me." 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Truly,  Mr.  Policeman,  I  believe  I  had  better 
not,"  slowly  she  responded. 

Her  matter-of-fact  opposition  nonplussed  him, 
and  believing  it  only  a  hoax  to  shield  herself  said, 
"Come  with  me,  Miss,  and  we  will  settle  this  busi- 
ness at  once,"  and  gaily  she  tripped  by  his  side  as 
though  going  to  a  circus. 

Arriving  at  the  head  office  the  Chief  ordered  he\ 
placed  in  jail,  and  when  attempting  to  take  the 
parcel  she  tightened  her  grip,  saying: 

"No,  no;  do  not  take  it  away.  This  is  Uncle'.? 
beautifully  bright  money  and  is  sacred,  for  he  but 
recently  brought  it  into  light  from  mother  earth." 

"What  hocus-pocus  game  is  she  trying  to  play 
us?  She  is  pretty  sly,"  mentioned  the  special. 

Emphatically  the  Chief  said :  "I  demand  you  to 
deliver  that  parcel  to  the  care  of  Justice  until  your 
fate  is  settled." 

"Justice."  Ah,  that  would  satisfy  sister  Faith  and 
be  a  gratification  to  Uncle,  for  his  virgin  gold  was 
to  pass  into  the  hands  of  Justice,  which,  as  having  a 
due  sense  of  benefits,  would  carefully  invest  it  to 
comply  with  the  rightful  demands  of  the  industrious 
and  toilsome  laborer,"  answered  Hope,  as  she  gra- 
ciously handed  to  him  the  package. 

"Miss  Hope's  actions  are  really  incredible  and 
mysterious,"  remarked  the  special  to  the  chief,  as 
he  turned  to  escort  her  to  jail. 

The  news  of  her  imprisonment  spread  like  wild- 
fire and  very  soon  the  streets  were  redounding  the 

66 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

shrill  echo  of  the  voices  of  the  news-boys  calling, 
"Extra !  The  Bishop's  murderer  has  been  captured 
and  placed  behind  the  bars.  Miss  Hope  was  the 
guilty  one.  She  took  his  life  to  rob  him,  for  she 
was  caught  with  the  tell-tale  money  in  her  posses- 
sion." 

Hearing  the  cry  of  the  urchins,  Miss  Joy  hastened 
to  the  jail  and  was  smilingly  greeted  by  her  loved 
friend  Hope,  as  though  no  shadow  of  guilty  sus- 
picion was  hanging  over  her. 

With  ardor  Miss  Joy  clasped  the  hand  extended 
through  the  bars  and  pressed  it  to  her  lips,  and 
said:  "Truly,  this  is  Hope,  whose  face  reflects  net 
pain  of  mind  or  regretful  sorrows,  but  happiness  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  lovely  and  consecrated." 

"Joy — Joy !"  exclaimed  Hope,  "I  knew  you  would 
come,  for  you  are  life  of  my  life  and  never  infest- 
ing." 

"Ha,  ha !  Hope,  my  dearest  of  friends,  these  iron 
bars  are  no  infringement  to  your  look  of  hope  that 
apprehends  and  delves  in  the  Holy  of  Holies,  and 
are  no  barrier  spiritually  between  us,  nor  yet  de- 
frauding to  our  happiness,  and  I  will  confirm  it  by 
giving  you  this  letter  written,  if  I  mistake  not,  by 
your  sister  Faith." 

"Yes,  and  I  will  read  it  aloud  to  share  my  pleas- 
ure with  you,  dear  Joy." 

"  'My  dear  Sister  Hope : 

"  'Your  sister  Faith  is  communing  with  you  in 
spirit  and  believes  not  in  the  possibility  of  your 

67 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

having  committed  the  horrible  crimes  ascribed  to 
you ;  otherwise  she  would  forsake  all  else  and  hasten 
to  your  side.  Miss  Joy,  your  boon  companion,  tel- 
egraphed that  she  would  go.  Her  vivacity  will  add 
strengthening  vitality  to  your  seemingly  hopeless 
situation  far  more  than  the  sympathizing  words  of 
your  sisters  Faith,  Love,  Truth  and  Charity,  whose 
offices  oscillate  in  the  apartments  of  the  discouraged 
and  disconsolate,  the  sick,  the  dying,  bereaved  and 
mourning  ones,  and  on  the  battle  field  flitting  here 
and  there  among  the  groaning  soldiers,  feelingly 
bandaging  their  wounds  and  administering  the  balm 
of  sympathy  as  an  anodyne  to  soothe  the  pain,  while 
they  articulate  a  last  message  to  mother,  father,  sis- 
ters and  another — a  sweetheart  whose  image  is  in- 
delibly impressed  on  the  tablet  of  memory,  asking, 
as  the  final  moment  of  life  draws  near,  to  impart 
word  for  word  their  most  affectionate  adieus  to 
their  loved  ones,  then  lowering  the  ear  to  catch  their 
last  whispering  sigh,  "And  tell  them  farewell,  and 
oh,  tell  them  to  meet  me  in  that  more  blissful  place/' 
''Thus  it  is  better  that  Miss  Joy,  who  lives  not 
under  the  auspices  of  the  knell  of  death  but  the 
hearthstone  of  ecstacy  and  abode  of  delight,  be 
your  blithesome  companion  while  your  sisters  will 
rest  assured  that  your  loyalty  to  hope  will  be  the 
emblem  of  your  deliverance. 

"  'Affectionately   your   sister, 

"  'FAITH  FAIRCHILD;  " 

68 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 
CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  Bishop  had  been  too  closely  allied  in  the 
affections  of  his  people  for  them  to  idly  rest  and 
permit  justice  to  dally  too  long  before  arraigning 
the  guilty  one,  and  loudly  the  multitude  denounced 
Miss  Hope  as  being  the  criminal. 

The  fact  was  decided,  that  in  seeking  to  cheat 
justice  by  the  artifice  of  boldly  returning,  she  had 
but  acknowledged  herself  as  being  the  perpetrator. 
Obviously  she  was  the  female  figure  the  special  saw 
fleeting  through  the  library.  No  other  person  be- 
side the  Bishop  knew  the  combination  of  the  safe 
locks.  He  had  taught  her  before  taking  his  vaca- 
tion in  Europe,  and  had  said:  "Often  the  emerg- 
encies of  travel  terminate  in  unforseen  occurrences, 
and  it  might  be  necessary  to  have  the  contents  of 
this  safe— in  case  of  my  death — to  be  administered 
upon,  and  I  know  that  I  can  trust  you." 

Solemnly  she  had  answered:  "Surely  you  can, 
dear  Bishop,  but  please  do  not  entertain  such  a 
thought.  My  prayers  will  ever  be  with  you,  asking 
that  you  be  restored  to  us  again  safe  and  well/' 

That  was  a  long  time  ago.  The  Bishop  had 
completed  his  voyage  and  renewed  his  labors  with 
increased  vigor,  in  the  midst  of  which  he  had  been 
murdered  and  Miss  Hope  arrested,  with  convincing 
proof  and  convicting  circumstances  as  being  the 
culprit. 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

It  required  reinforced  police  regulations  to  quell 
the  excitement  that  raged  almost  to  lynch  law  and 
made  it  apparent  that  proximate  proceedings  should 
be  put  into  operation  to  enforce  the  trial. 

But  there  were  certain  conformities  of  the  law 
to  be  adhered  to,  and  the  ever-ready  innumerable 
and  inordinate  technicalities  that  are  noxiously  re- 
sorted to  only  to  asperse  or  befogg  the  law  and 
retard  justice,  to  contend  with. 

Then,  again,  it  would  not  be  equitable  to  espouse 
the  cause  too  soon,  for  the  prisoner  should  always 
have  the  benefit  of  a  doubt  and  delay  that  a  jury 
might  be  drawn  from  a  not  over-excited  populace, 
for  in  the  balance  might  hang  a  life  or  a  life  term 
imprisonment. 

Evidently  the  legal  lights  of  the  law  were  cool 
and  calculating  when  such  a  character  as  Miss  Hope 
was  in  the  scales,  yet  the  good  Bishop's  life  must  be 
duly  avenged,  therefore,  their  act  of  judgment  must 
be  calm  deliberate  and  with  understanding. 

But  they  were  not  adequate  to  solve  the  problem 
why  Miss  Hope  retained  such  a  passive  demeanor 
and  expression  of  the  most  unaffected  and 
unalloyed  happiness,  while  yet  so  inexorable  in  her 
delusive  explanation  of  gaining  possession  of  what 
she  calls,  "Uncle's  Sacred  Money."  They  indulged 
the  question:  "Is  she  guilty  and  resorts  to  this 
method  as  a  manner  of  bluff  or  subterfuge?" 

It  had  not  occurred  to  them  that  she  was  the 
embodiment  of  her  name,  "Hope,"  which  is  im- 

70 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

mortal  and  receives  its  light  from  the  infinite,  thus 
conceding  a  glorious  spiritual  longing  that  trans- 
ports one  into  the  realms  of  ecstacy  pertaining  to 
the  eternal  heavenly  life  that  can  solely  be  entered 
by  the  pre-eminently  good. 

And  Miss  Joy's  presence  was  still  more  puzzling, 
for  she  contributed  constantly  of  the  abundance  of 
her  nature  until  they  were  overflowing  with  mirth- 
fulness. 

Time  vanished  in  rapid  succession;  then  Hope's 
sister,  Love,  joined  their  circle.  Then,  truly,  they 
basked  in  the  beatitude  which  surpasseth  all  under- 
standing. No  combined  force  of  the  ungodly  could 
render  them  destruction,  for  hope,  love,  joy,  are 
the  ruling  powers  that  guard  the  labyrinths  which 
leads  to  jeopardy. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

With  more  than  usual  enthusiasm,  Joy  greeted 
Love  upon  her  arrival,  and  said :  "O,  Love,  I  can- 
not express  my  happiness  that  you  have  come,  for 
you  can  confirm  the  veracity  of  Hope's  version  of 
"Uncle's  Sacred  Money,"  Jor  which  they  will  try 
to  prove  that  she  murdered  the  Bishop  to  pro- 
cure." 

"No,  Joy,"  said  Love,  "I  am  sure  I  cannot. 
Faith  told  me  of  it,  and  also  of  the  golden  twenties 
which  may  lady  had  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  to 
the  politician,  but  none  of  which  I  had  seen." 

71 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

However,  Joy  being  satisfied  that  Love  could  be 
of  estimable  value  in  the  emergency  of  freeing  her 
sister  Hope  from  the  terrible  dilemma,  stepped  to 
the  telephone  and  asked  Attorney  Goodman  to  come 
and  interview  with  Hope's  sister  Love,  who  had 
just  arrived. 

The  attorney  hastened  over  and  had  a  long  talk 
with  Love,  and  as  he  was  taking  his  departure  Joy 
intercepted  him,  and  asked: 

"Mr.  Goodman,  will  not  Love's  testimony  that 
Hope  had  never — from  infancy — been  a  wrong- 
doer do  much  in  clearing  her  of  this  guilt  ques- 
tion?" 

"I  am  afraid  not,  Miss  Joy.  Candidly,  I  will  say 
that  the  evidence  being  clearly  against  her,  this 
declaration  will  be  of  little  value.  The  peculiar 
manner  in  which  Miss  Hope  returned  with  what 
she  called  'Uncle's  Sacred  Money'  in  her  hand  after 
being  invisible  for  a  lengthy  period  will  disavow 
her  innocence  and  proclaim  her  story  a  fabrication 
in  the  estimation  of  a  jury.  And  unless  we  can 
establish  a  more  strenuous  method  we  cannot  save 
her." 

"Save  her!  Attorney  Goodman,  save  her ?  What 
do  you  mean?"  questioned  Joy. 

"Unless  you  insist,  I  had  rather  not  answer  just 
yet,  as  I  want  to  make  sure  of  my  grounds  first, 
and  not  disturb  Miss  Hope's  peace  of  mind,  and 
that  of  her  friends,  with  undue  anxiety  and  care," 
he  answered. 

72 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"But  1  do  insist,  Attorney  Goodman.  It  is  bet- 
ter that  we  be  prepared  for  the  worst." 

"Well,  Miss  Joy — insanity,  or  at  least  a  mono- 
maniac— which  I  really  believe  to  be  true." 

Joy  said  no  more,  but  bade  him  goodbye,  and  im- 
mediately repaired  to  the  grated  window  where 
Love  was  talking  to  Hope,  as  they  were  not  per- 
mitted to  visit  on  the  inside  of  the  cell,  she  having 
been  incarcerated  under  the  criminal  charge  of 
murder. 

"Dear  Hope,"  said  Joy,  "how  ludicrous.  Attor- 
ney Goodman  informs  me  that,  in  his  opinion,  the 
only  defense  he  can  make  in  your  favor  to  save  you 
is  the  plea  of  insanity,  which  he  believes  to  be 
true." 

Noting  Love's  concerned  look,  Hope  cheerfully 
rejoined :  "My  dear  sister  and  friend,  let  not  your 
hearts  be  troubled  or  filled  with  misgivings.  Love, 
Joy  and  Hope  being  in  trio  can  surmount  every 
obstacle  and  triumph  over  evil.  And  now,  Love, 
tell  us  of  yourself.  Sister  Faith  wrote  that  you  were 
much  cast  down  and  discouraged." 

Sweet,  delicate  and  dainty  Love  was  no  stoic, 
but  always  ready  to  supply  abundantly  her  sym- 
pathetic qualities  to  those  who  were  afflicted  or 
sought  her  good  will,  replied: 

"I  thought  to  save  you  from  hearing  the  terminal 
of  that  harrowing  episode  of  the  politician  and  his 
wife. 

73 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"It  is  perfectly  accordant  that  you  should  tell 
us,  dear  Love.  I  was  much  troubled,  but  lost  not 
'hope'  when  I  heard  of  your  misfortune  and  their 
pitiable  strife,"  said  Hope,  and  Joy  added:  "Yes, 
please  tell  us,  Love." 

"Well,"  said  Love,  "Faith  wrote  to  you  the  way 
'Uncle's  Sacred  Money'  was  combatively  contended 
between  husband  and  wife,  which  was  caused  by 
true  love  not  being  responsive. 

"Some  months  after  Faith  and  I  had  visited  their 
abode  with  such  momentuous  conclusion,  I  went 
again  to  make  another  effort  to  bring  accord  in 
the  household.  The  lady  had  won  my  esteem  by 
the  earnest  affection  she  had  given  to  her  husband 
in  their  early  married  life  and  the  kindly  considera- 
tion bestowed  upon  me — in  fact,  she  was  gentle  to 
every  one,  and  I  grieved  that  she  excluded  me  from 
her  presence. 

"As  before,  I  was  shown  to  her  boudoir,  where 
I  found  her  alone.  She  did  not  rise  to  meet  me, 
nor  was  I  saluted  with  the  kindliest  of  greetings, 
neither  did  she  graciously  invite  me  to  be  seated. 
Nevertheless,  I  sat  down,  and  for  the  want  of 
something  to  say,  I  asked :  'Are  you  alone  ?' 

"She  vouchsafed  the  answer:  'No,  not  quite. 
My  companion  Hate  is  always  close,  who  at  my 
call  will  appear.' 

"My  dear  girls,  don't  you  see?  I  found  my  lady 
in  no  happier  mood  than  when  Faith  and  I  were 
there.  In  fact,  I  doubt  if  she  had  ever  enjoyed 

74 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

one  moment  in  the  companionship  of  Happiness 
since.  We  then  believed  that  my  lady  had  reached 
the  climax  of  extreme  change  in  manner  and  ap- 
pearance, but  were  mistaken. 

''Her  face  was  now  of  a  chalky  pallor,  wrinkled 
and  drawn,  and  presented  a  weird  look  as  a  result  of 
constant  indulgence  in  intemperate  derision,  while 
her  eyes,  which  were  formerly  of  the  mildest  blue, 
gleamed  from  sunkerf  sockets  with  dark  rings  under- 
neath. And  do  not  be  shocked  when  I  say  that, 
if  her  compressed  lips  were  to  have  lengthened  to 
a  smile  it  would  have  been  but  the  mockery  of  a 
corpse. 

"Oh,  girls,  does  it  not  weary  you  to  listen.  It 
really  gives  me  the  heartache  to  think  of  it." 

"Then  please  do  not  live  it  over  again  for  our 
sakes,"  said  Joy. 

But  Hope  responded:  "Yes,  you  have  suffered 
too  much  already,  but  sometimes,  sharing  an  over- 
loaded care-stricken  mind  with  conscientiously  in- 
clined loved  ones,  will  infuse  inherent  power  and 
vigor  to  a  depressed  spirit." 

"You  are  right,  dear  sister,  and  I  have  wanted 
you  to  know  the  circumstances  and  the  accurate 
account,  that  you  might  understand  that  Love  is 
blameless,  and  it  will  relieve  me  greatly  to  con- 
clude their  story." 

Hope  said:  "Love  is  blameless.  True  love  can- 
not be  otherwise.  That  iis  why  our  Heavenly 
Father  sent  His  son  from  His  kingdom  to  earth. 

75 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

He  loved  us — His  people — and  wished  to  redeem  us 
from  sin.  Therefore,  love  is  omnipotent.  At  your 
pleasure,  we  are  ready  to  listen." 

"Well,"  continued  Love.  "My  lady  was  in  the 
state  of  which  should  have  been  called  holy  mother- 
hood, but  a  more  unholy  conditioa  of  affairs  could 
not  be  supposed. 

"She  cursed  both  God  and  man.  God,  as  invest- 
ing her  with  devotional  love  until  it  had  been  quite 
idolatrous ;  and  man,  as  being  the  covetous  poltroon, 
who  had  won  her  love  with  the  greatest  professions 
of  endurement  only  to  gratify  his  evil  propensity  of 
preferment,  power  and  lecherous  animal  instinct." 

Hope  calmly  interrupted :  "Truly!  A  woman 
whose  love  is  trampled  upon  becomes  a  demon,  un- 
less that  love  be  in  invfeible  unity  with  the  sagacious- 
ness  of  Wisdom,  which  uplifts  it  into  the  most 
zealous  devotion  of  Godliness." 

"Yes,"  continued  Love,  "had  my  lady  remem- 
bered that  'God  is  love/  she  might  have  been  con- 
soled, but  her  devotion  was  all  of  earth.  I  thought 
to  vanquish  the  effluence  of  her  reviling  language 
by  calling  her  attention  to  the  near  approach  of  her 
maternity,  which  should  be  the  joyful  culmination 
of  matrimonial  bliss. 

"She  hissed  in  my  ears:  'I  scorn  to  become  the 
mother  of  his  child.  He,  who  not  only  culpably 
and  wrongfully  wooed  me  into  his  loveless  mar- 
riage, but  traduces  me  to  his  friends,  and  entertains 
me,  when  here,  with  the  harshest  of  language.  Dur- 

76 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

ing  my  gestation,  my  whole  soul  craves  for  the 
kindliest  treatment  and  affectionate  words. 

"Why,  since  his  election,  for  days  he  leaves  trie 
alone  with  my  companion  Hate,  whom  he  installed 
here,  while  he  visits  the  haunts  that  the  laws  of 
this  great  American  Republic  sanctions  and  pro- 
vides for  its  dissolute  men,  which  causes  the  demon 
to  run  riot  through  every  pulsation  of  my  arteries, 
setting  my  blood  on  fire,  and  Hate  with  her 
everlasting  harping,  heaps  the  fuel  on  the  kindlings 
of  the  already  scorching  flames." 

Asked  Hope:  "Steer  Love,  why  did  not  you 
speak  of  the  Great  Eternal  Being  who  could  give 
balm  to  her  wounded  soul,  which  He  is  always 
ready  to  impart  to  the  despairing  ones?" 

"Her  mind,  Hope,  was  too  overwrought  and 
gave  no  opportunity,  but  compelled  me  to  be  the 
listener  and  she  said:  'Why,  Miss  Love,  here  is 
an  article  in  this  morning's  paper,  which  I  will  read 
to  you  verbatim :  *  "A  dissolute  woman  arrested 
for  alienating  the  affections  of  a  married  man. 
While  the  woman  is  legally  accused  of  being  a 
vagrant,  the  cause  that  led  to  her  arrest  is,  that 
she  persisted  for  some  time  past  in  alienating  the 
affections  of  a  married  man  from  his  family.  The 
man's  wife  a  few  days  ago  appeared  in  court  and 
tearfully  told  the  story  to  the  judge.  She  was  ad- 
vised to  secure  a  warrant  for  the  arrest  of  the  wo- 
man, but  refused  to  do  so  because  she  feared  dis- 
grace. The  officers  then  took  a  hand  in  the  matter 

77 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

and  motified  the  woman  that  unless  she  left  town 
she  would  be  jailed.  Yesterday  the  woman  was 
still  in  town  and  a  warrant  was  served  on  her  and 
trial  set." 

"  'Now,  Miss  Love/  said  my  lady,  'who  is  the 
villain?  Why  did  they  not  arrest  the  husband, 
too?  He  was  the  one  who  did  the  wrong  by  being 
unfaithful  to  his  wife  and  forswearing  his  mar- 
riage vows,  which  are  the  foundation  of  every 
fundamental  principle  to  keep  the  purity  and  virtue 
of  our  homes  intact. 

"  'Men  are  supposed  to  occupy  the  exalted  posi- 
tion as  being  the  protector  and  defender  of  wo- 
man's honor.  He  is  denominated  as  being  the 
stronger  sex — she  the  weaker,  or  frail. 

"  'Miss  Love,  will  you  kindly  inform  me  who  but 
man  by  his  feigned  love  and  egotistical  promises 
places  woman  in  the  ungodly  ranks  that  are  so  un- 
savory to  society  which  relegates  them  to  the  strictly 
located  quarters  of  the  "white  slave"  in  the  domains 
of  the  cities  while  he  boldly  strides  as  being  the 
beguiled  one,  enticed  by  the  woman's  sweet  smiles, 
seductive  eyes  and  alluring  ways,  and  whom  he  se- 
cretly continues  to  visit  as  the  one  being  on  earth 
to  him,  but  has  not  manhood  enough  to  redeem 
from  the  haunts  of  unsanctified  virtue. 

"  'Miss  Love,"  she  continued,  'it  is  this  unrighte- 
ousness which  is  uprooting  the  sanctity  of  our 
homes,  blasting  its  happiness  by  divorces  and  caus- 
ing race  suicide.' 

78 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"That  virtuous  wife  feared  disgrace  because  of 
her  husband's  perfidy.  That  vagrant  woman  had 
not  entered  their  home,  was  it  justice  to  his  wife 
that  he  should  permit  himself  to  be  waylayed  or 
seek  companionship  with  the  profligate  woman,  or 
might  we  call  her,  affinity,  who  well  understood  his 
frailty — usually  ascribed  as  only  belonging  to  the 
gentler  sex — that  of  undignified  disregard  of  his 
manhood's  honor. 

"  'Ah,  Miss  Love,  it  is  but  the  proving  of  his 
overrated  strength  of  character,  while  the  integrity 
of  his  manly  courage  has  fallen  to  the  unit  limit, 
yes,  and  below  par,  and  his  name  is  registered  on 
the  great  book  of  life  under  the  head  of  guilty 
shame. 

"  'Then,  again,  Miss  Love,  why  is  it  that  the 
man  of  millions  may  put  away  his  wife — who  had 
been  his  helpmate  and  lead  a  pure  and  stainless 
life  from  below  the  first  rung  of  the  ladder — to 
marry  some  beautiful,  accomplished  young  girl, 
possibly  one  that  is  far  above  the  average  with 
gifted  professional  qualities  and  ambitious  aspira- 
tions, whom  he  seeks  as  his  affinity,  as  having  sup- 
planted the  wife  of  his  youth  and  mother  of  his 
childern,  who,  by  his  own  immoral  acts,  cannot 
arise  and  call  him  blessed  father,  but  fill  the  air 
with  curses  of  the  day  they  were  born  of  his  blood, 
to  brand  them  thus  with  marks  contrary  to  the  di- 
vine law?' 

79 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"  'My  lady,  do  you  imagine  the  girl  can  love  him 
as  her  husband?'  I  asked. 

"  'You  ask  me  that  question,  Miss  Love?  Why 
she  was  lured  by  the  marvelous  gorgeousness  of 
the  wealth  he  promised  to  lay  at  her  feet  when 
she  should  have  become  an  old  man's  darling.  Win- 
ter frosts  and  spring  flowers  are  not  kindred.  After 
she  has  gained  his  riches  there  is  no  congeniality 
and  the  affection  she  bestows — no  matter  how  else 
she  may  strive — is  sphinx-like,  while  in  her  heart 
she  truly  despises  him  as  he  lavishly  dispenses  his 
gold  for  her  every  desire  and  worships  at  her  shrine 
as  that  of  a  goddess,  calling  her  'my  beautiful  angel 
love/  Love,  why  he  had  none  to  give.  He  had  out- 
grown it!  Love  belonged  to  his  youth,  pride  now 
being  his  ruling  passion,  which  might  have  been 
bestowed  on  an  enchantingly  beautiful  Arabian 
steed. 

"  'Ah,  Miss  Love,  it  is  gross  pride  and  self-esteem 
which  he  lays  on  the  altar  of  the  young,  inexperi- 
enced girl's  life.  Even  affection's  garb  could  not  be 
there,  as  he  was  bereft  of  that  quality  when  he  gave 
up  his  children,  and  when  he  untied  the  knot  which 
bound  him  to  the  bride  of  his  youth,  love  forsook 
him. 

"  'Oh,  Love,  Love,  Love !  My  politician  husband 
wanted  not  that/  in  agony  my  lady  cried,  as  she 
paced  the  floor  and  wrung  her  hands.  'He  seemed 
superior  to  all  other  men  and  was  vehemently  ardent 
in  his  wooing. 

so 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"  'I  deemed  him  most  worthy,  but  found  him  a 
sham.  He  pierced  my  heart  with  a  poisoned  arrow 
from  Cupid's  bow,  which  I  trusted  as  being  time- 
honored. 

"  'After  he  had  taken  the  marriage  vows  and  left 
the  sacred  edifice,  his  abruptness  was  made  most 
manifest  as  we  entered  the  auto  to  bear  us  to  our 
reception,  which  caused  a  chill  to  run  through  my 
heart  where  his  warmest  love  had  been  paramount. 

"  'But  you  know  all,  Miss  Love.  And  now  I  am 
to  become  the  mother  of  his  child.  It  is  revolting 
to  my  very  being  and  my  soul  seems  incarcerated. 
I  scorned  to  seek  a  divorce,  for  it  is  vile.  Oh,  I  had 
longed  for  a  child  of  love,  but  this,  my  child  and 
his,  can  be  but  a  demon.  Why,  yes,  it  will  be ;  for 
this  is  Hades !'  she  shouted  in  a  delirium  of  rage. 

"Shocked  beyond  endurance,  I  made  my  exit,  and 
I  scarcely  believe  she  knew  when  I  left  the  room,  as 
I  could  hear  her  still  wailing  and  talking  as  I  re- 
treated to  the  door,  nor  do  I  think  she  was  con- 
scious all  through  her  conversation  that  she  had  a 
listener,  for  the  words  came  as  though  oft  repeated. 

"Sorrowfully  I  returned  home  and  sought  sister 
Faith,  and  repeated  the  result  of  my  mission.  She 
was  deeply  affected  over  it,  and  said : 

"  'I  pity  the  politician's  wife.  She  has  been  stung 
to  the  very  depths  of  her  soul,  which  has  stupefied  or 
rather  stultified  her  better  nature.  The  politician 
would  have  won  my  compassion  had  he  have  been 
the  duped,  but  she  alone  now  is  the  object  of  my 

81 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

commiseration.  If  tire  dear  little  life  which  is  in- 
spired by  her  has  no  occult  power  to  lead  her  back 
to  noble  womanhood,  I  fear  there  is  nothing  can 
rescue  her  from  the  doom  of  contrition,  while  yet 
the  sin  was  not  hers/ 

"I  asked  Faith  who  ought  to  be  condemned  for 
this  state  of  affairs.  Her  answer  was :  'My  judg- 
ment has  no  real  substance,  value  or  importance  and 
is  destitute  of  force  or  efficiency,  but,  whosoever  be 
the  wronged  person,  there  is  One  who  is  All  Pow- 
erful that  will  deal  full  justice  to  the  malefactor — 
if  not  now,  in  time  to  come/ 

"I  also  asked  Faith,  as  I  could  not  apprehend  it, 
why  my  lady  should  have  such  contempt  for  the 
beautiful  and  sanctified  as  well  as  blessed  mother- 
hood, and  she  answered : 

"  'Why,  sister  Love,  she — the  wife — does  not 
understand,  or  perhaps  will  not,  that  in  tradition 
maternity  is  the  culmination  which  places  her  on  the 
highest  pinnacle  of  glory  and  power.  Woman's 
dominion  is  not  simply  to  be  a  companion  and  help- 
mate of  man.  Hers  is  a  greater  mission.  It  is  the 
governing  power  which  dominates  every  station  in 
life  and  has  sovereignly  over  all  mankind,  be  it  for 
good  or  evil.  To  her  belongs  that  paternal  and  pre- 
natal potency  which  rules  the  character  and  condi- 
tion of  the  life  that  has  been  given  to  her  care  to 
foster,  which  consists  not  only  with  the  providing  of 
food  but  nourishment  to  the  mind  with  Divine  grace 
—which  means  belonging  to  or  proceeding  from 

82 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

God — that  shall  rule  the  disposition  and  guide  its 
future  destiny. 

"  'Who  has  been  more  exalted  than  "Mary,"  the 
mother  of  the  Best  Man  that  ever  was  born,  and 
who  led  the  most  devotional  life  to  His  Father  in 
heaven,  while  yet  the  humblest,  as  His  dwelling 
place  was  among  the  lowly?  Although  impover- 
ished in  raiment,  His  intellectual  faculties — which 
were  always  Divinely  Spiritual,  pure  and  holy — 
were  the  nucleus  which  has  mobilized  the  momentum 
of  man  into  chosen  ways  designated  as  civilization. 
Yet  this  was  not  the  extent  of  His  magnitude  of 
greatness,  for  He  excelled  in  distinguishing  it  when 
He  suffered  the  martyrdom  death,  that  the  proud 
sinner  might  be  saved  by  redemption.' 

''And,  I  said,  'There  are  many  people,  Faith,  who 
doubt  the  divinity  of  that  good  and  Holy  Man, 
Christ.' 

'  'Be  that  as  it  may,  Love,'  she  answered,  'none 
can  gainsay  that  He  has  not  been  the  Savior  that 
during  His  life  on  earth  gave  and  instituted  the 
nucleus  of  religious  faith  to  reclaim  the  world  from 
wickedness,  and  His  spirit  still  exists  with  increas- 
ing expansion. 

"  'And  Mary,  His  mother,  even  though  Her  throes 
were  in  a  stable  and  attended  by  those  of  lowly  birth, 
prenatally  imbued  Him  with  her  modesty,  humility 
and  life  of  deep  devotion  and  meek  consecration  and 
reverence  for  the  Great  Father  who  had  been  His 
transmitter. 

83 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"  'Notwithstanding  this,  dear  sister  Love/  Faith 
continued,  'the  tendency  of  the  old  barbaric  exhibi- 
tions of  cruelty  remains  in  many  constitutional  dis- 
positions that  have  not  accepted  the  instructions  of 
that  Good  Man,  as  demonstrated  by  the  politician 
and  his  wife/  " 

"Well,  Love,"  interrupted  Joy,  "I  do  not  wonder 
that  you  were  filled  with  consterntion  and  sorrow." 

"Assuredly  it  was  indeed  grievous  to  me,"  an- 
swered Love,  ''and  as  Faith  had  thought  best  to 
continue  her  search  and  go  to  New  York,  I  could 
not  content  myself  without  making  another  effort 
to  reinstate  love  in  my  lady's  household,  but  con- 
cluded to  let  time  make  its  softening  influence  with 
the  mother-love  for  her  little  one  and  the  politician 
cling  to  his  child  with  a  fatherly  affection  which 
might  reinstate  Cupid  in  the  family  circle.  There- 
fore, three  years  had  transpired  before  I  again  be- 
took myself  to  their  domicile. 

"As  before,  I  asked  the  maid  to  give  my  name  to 
her  mistress. 

"  'My  mistress  is  out/  she  replied. 

"  'Then  can  I  see  the  little  boy?' 

"  'Why,  no.  He  is  at  the  children's  hospital.  He 
was  suffering  from  bronchitis,  so  the  nurse  took  him 
there/  she  said. 

"  'Children's  hospital  ?'  I  exclaimed  in  astonish- 
ment, 'then  probably  my  lady,  or  rather  his  mother, 
is  with  him  ?' 

84 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

'  'Indeed,  she  is  not/  quickly  rejoined  the  maid. 
'Madam  scarcely  ever  sees  the  child,  and  lets  nurse 
have  entire  care  and  attention  of  him/ 

"Oh,  girls,  my  heart  was  sad,  my  love  dormant 
and  my  good  intentions  frustrated  so  that  my  speech 
forsook  me,  unless  it  was  to  say  something  ungainly. 
Therefore  I  took  my  leave,  merely  nodding  a  good- 
by." 

"How  could  a  mother  possibly  send  her  little  child 
to  a  hospital,  to  be  cared  for  by  entire  strangers?'* 
asked  Hope. 

"It  seemed  unmotherly  and  incredible  to  me; 
therefore  I  went  to  the  hospital,  and  found  it  only 
too  true.  Then  I  inquired  if  the  father  came  often 
to  visit  his  child. 

"  'Well,  no,'  they  said,  'his  office  demands  his 
time.  Besides,  he  must  keep  public  spirit  enthused, 
that  he  might  again  be  renominated,  and  could 
scarcely  take  his  rest  on  the  pillow  at  night.' 

"I  retired  from  the  hospital  with  this  illustration 
in  my  mind :  The  heart  which  had  rebelled  against 
motherhood  had  not  been  reprieved  by  the  little  one, 
whose  soft,  clinging  fingers  ought  to  have  brought 
the  dew  drops  of  love  back  into  her  heart. 

"I  was  persistent  and  went  again,  but  only  saw 
the  nurse,  as  the  child  was  asleep,  and  she  fully 
explained  that  the  loathing  which  dwelt  in  the 
mother's  heart  before  the  child's  birth  was  indelibly 
instilled  into  his  life,  therefore  had  no  love  for  his 
mother." 

85 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Ah!  ah!  ah!"  mirthfully  exclaimed  Joy.  "I  am 
thankful  that  my  mother  instilled  me  with  the  dis- 
position to  laugh.  Even  when  seeing  crape  on  the 
door  knob  I  smile,  for  some  sweet  spirit  has  departed 
through  the  portals  of  death  and  reached  the  realms 
where  there  is  no  jar,  but  all  are  singing  happily 
sweet  anthems  of  praise. 

"My  father  often  said,  'We  named  you  Joy  and 
knew  that  you  would  be  an  illustration  of  your  name, 
for  your  mother  was  a  living  example  of  constant, 
merry  happiness,  and  not  a  cloud  of  inharmonious 
ill-nature  overshadowed  her  pathway.' ': 

"Then  your  father,  too,  must  have  been  a  most 
dutiful  husband,  for  the  reflection  of  his  own  con- 
genial spirit  was  mirrored  in  the  soul  of  your 
mother,  who  transferred  it  to  you,"  said  Love. 
"And,  sister  Hope,  we  will  go  now,  as  the  turnkey 
is  ready  to  close  for  the  evening." 

"Well,  dear  Love,  you  can  tell  us  the  sequel  to- 
morrow. I  have  been  much  interested  and  sym- 
pathetic that  the  time  has  passed  very  rapidly,"  said 
Hope. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

On  the  morrow,  when  Love  and  Joy  had  returned 
to  the  prison,  they  found  Hope  in  readiness  to  re- 
ceive them,  looking  as  brightly  cheerful  as  though 
waiting  in  the  grated  cell  to  accept  a  munificent 
recompense,  instead  of  a  trial  for  the  inhuman  act  of 
killing  a  human  being. 

86 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

She  greeted  them  gayly,  saying:  "I  am  anxious 
to  hear  the  remainder  of  the  details  of  the  politician's 
family,  if  Love  is  not  too  wearied  in  mind  and 
body.'" 

"No,  sister,  Love  is  not  so  easily  jaded,  else  she 
would  have  collapsed  entirely  when  the  circum- 
stances were  so  trying/'  answered  Love,  "and  I 
never  went  to  see  them  again. 

"But  they  were  so  widely  known  I  frequently 
heard  of  their  numerous  dissensions,  also  of  the 
great  popularity  of  the  politician,  whose  society  was 
sought  at  innumerable  functions,  as  facilitating  the 
advancement  of  the  general  political  schemes  which 
influenced  their  party,  which  was  considered  con- 
ducive to  the  business  traffic  of  the  country. 

"But  this  was  principally  among  men  and  his  wife 
had  no  part  in  it,  consequently  was  left  to  her  own 
resources.  He  was  too  much  interested  in  his  pur- 
suit for  predominance  and  gain  to  know  of  her  re- 
sorts or  companions  had  he  been  so  inclined  or  to 
concern  himself  about  his  invalid  child. 

"He  had  never  recovered  from  the  vexation  of  not 
being  able  to  freely  handle  his  wife's  money,  and 
the  income  from  it  was  not  adequate  for  his  desires, 
neither  was  his  office  and  position  lucrative  enough 
for  his  expenditures,  which  were  prodigal. 

"His  wife  marveled  as  time  rolled  on  where  her 
husband  received  the  wherewithal  to  meet  his  very 
extravagant  disbursements,  which  certainly  involved 
many  thousands  of  dollars  more  than  his  income. 

87 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"The  people  had  not  interested  themselves  in  the 
matter,  knowing  the  extreme  wealth  of  his  wife,  and, 
as  being  their  leader,  were  unanimously  conservative 
constituents  to  his  party,  giving  no  thought  as  to  the 
consequences. 

"But  she — his  wife — knew  that  eventually  the 
climax  would  be  reached,  and,  had  she  been  so  dis- 
posed, it  would  have  been  impossible  for  her  to  give 
him  financial  means  to  aid  him  to  elucidate  his  enor- 
mous disbursements  and  relieve  his  embarrassment, 
for  her  father,  by  his  usual  sagacity,  had  prepared 
for  this  precipitous  state  of  affairs  as  if  by  premoni- 
tion, thus  placing  her  in  charge  only  of  the  income. 

"She  had  confided  to  a  friend :  'Had  not  my  hus- 
band torn  from  my  heart  every  branch,  root  and 
trace  of  love,  I  would  willingly  have  shared  a  de 
ficiency  of  resources  with  him,  even  to  the  last  slice 
of  bread. 

"  'But  now  I  am  like  unto  the  grand  old  oak  tree 
that  thrived  luxuriantly,  extending  its  branches  to 
protect  the  delicate  little  violet  and  its  surrounding 
verdure  from  the  'scorching  rays  of  the  zenith  sun 
with  a  most  affectionate  nature,  then  dropping  its 
foliage  to  still  further  succor  the  little  blossom  by 
screening  its  roots  from  the  wintry  blast.  Then  a 
fire  raged  through  and  consumed  th'e  munificent 
offering,  penetrating  even  to  the  root  of  the  tree, 
where  it  continued  to  burn  until  it  reached  the  trunk 
of  that  forest  queen,  nor  did  the  conflagration  cease 
until  the  heart  of  the  tree  had  been  devoured. 

88 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Nevertheless,  it  still  stood  majestically  among 
its  kind,  yearly  resuming  its  verdant  adornment 
without  kaving  had  its  brilliant  hue  effaced;  yet 
when  the  great  vitality  that  had  been  sustained  by 
the  sap  issuing  from  the  porous  heart's  center, 
which  had  sent  it  seeping  through  its  immense  ma- 
terial substance  even  into  the  smallest  twig,  had 
been  robbed  of  its  succulence  by  the  drying  qualities 
of  the  air  being  inhaled  through  the  heart's  passage, 
its  doom  became  apparent  and  in  time  resulted  in 
the  withering  of  that  staunch  royalty  of  the  forest. 

*'  'But  not  as  that  queen  will  I  languish  and  pass 
away,  for  I  still  have  the  fire  of  mistaken  will-o'-the- 
wisp  love  burning  within  me,  which  breeds  ven- 
geance/ 

"Quietly  she  kept  in  touch  with  the  unrestrained 
lavishness  of  her  husband's  daily  consuming  of 
finances,  and  was  sure  that  disaster  could  not  be  far 
distant. 

"Believing  the  time  had  arrived  to  seek  revenge, 
she  placed  detectives  to  puzzle  over  the  questionable 
outlay.  Very  cautiously  they  began  proceedings. 
The  politician  had  become  less  prudent  in  his 
manipulations,  as  there  had  been  no  interrogations. 
Then,  being  more  confident,  he  boldly  plunged  into 
the  wildest  speculations,  consequently  the  sleuths 
had  an  open  field  and  soon  uncovered  the  fact  that 
he  had  been  guilty  of  gross  malfeasance  of  office, 
which  without  doubt  would  land  him  in  the  State 

89 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

prison,  where  he  would  be  entertained  as  a  guest  at 
Uncle  Sam's  functions. 

"The  populace  that  had  doted  upon  him  were 
highly  enraged,  and  urged  that  every  wheel  of  the 
law  be  put  in  motion  to  settle  him  with  as  much 
speed  as  possible  in  the  government's  very  secluded 
and  exclusive  hostelry — as  none  can  become  resi- 
dents without  the  saction  of  the  highest  tribunals 
of  the  country. 

"But  this  was  not  the  building  for  which  the 
politician  had  craved  and  aspired.  The  White 
House  had  been  his  goal,  but  when  he  had  appro- 
priated his  wife's  money  and  gallingly  upbraided  her, 
he  had  soldered  the  first  link  so  that  the  hinges  of 
that  building  would  be  consumed  by  rust  without 
having  responded  to  his  opening  touch,  thus  show- 
ing that  his  conscience  had  been  captured  by  his 
transgressions." 

4 'How  shocking."  said  Hope,  but  Joy,  who  was 
more  interested  as  to  the  future  of  the  wife,  asked : 

"What  became  of  his  wife?" 

"Well,"  said  Love,  "his  wife  was  not  idle,  yet  she 
did  not  indulge  in  dissolute  way  or  disreputable  com- 
panionship. In  her  youth  she  had  been  reared  in  a 
plain  manner  and  nurtured  with  extreme  care  and 
simple  fashions,  utterly  regardless  of  the  ostenta- 
tions usually  the  result  of  wealth. 

"Her  father  began  life  as  a  shepherd  and  had  ex- 
ercised humane,  watchful  attention  to  his  flock,  often 
feeding  the  delicate  little  lambs  warm  milk  and 

90 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

cuddling  them  in  a  cozy  corner  by  his  own  chimney 
fire. 

"This  compassionate  disposition  evinced  the  noble- 
ness of  his  character,  which  followed  him  through 
life.  He  invested  his  earnings  in  lands  of  the 
Western  States,  and  by  the  time  he  was  twenty-fivt 
years  of  age  he  had  accumulated  many  acreages, 
which  rapidly  increased  to  thousands. 

"At  that  age  he  married  a  modest  village  maiden, 
who  had  received  her  education  at  the  academy  of 
her  native  town.  He  sold  homesteads  to  the  influx 
of  settlers.  Railroads  diversified  his  land,  inter- 
spersing great  cities  and  towns  here  and  there. 
Wealth  rolled  in,  filling  his  chests  overflowing  with 
wealth  until  it  was  reckoned  by  the  millions,  the  fact 
of  which  he  really  was  at  a  loss  to  know  the  number. 
Their  little  daughter  had  never  known  the  life  of 
dissentient  discord.  Discontent  could  not  exist  in 
their  affectionate  and  harmonious  lives.  Conse- 
quently the  deluding  marriage,  which  dethroned  the 
happy  young  girl  of  her  idolatrous  love,  quite  un- 
hinged her  mind,  turning  her  into  a  maniac  demon, 
which,  with  the  aid  of  her  companion,  Hate,  eradi- 
cated every  atom  of  affection  that  might  have  re- 
mained and  lived  only  to  underplot  a  retaliating 
revenge. 

"Her  parents  were  grief-stricken  at  her  insane 
tact.  They  begged  for  the  custody  of  the  feeble 
little  child,  that  it  might  not  be  wielded  to  the  entire 
care  of  strangers,  but  with  her  mania  for  the  pur- 

91 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

suance  of  aversion  to  the  delicate  boy,  their  persua- 
sion and  advice  was  at  variance.  Yet  they  secretly 
gave  it  their  watchful  care,  for  well  they  knew  their 
little  grandchild  could  never  grow  up  to  years  of 
discretion." 

"Is  it  still  living?"  asked  Hope. 

"No,"  said  Love,  "while  the  father's  case  was  be- 
ing tried  it  died  and  was  quietly  buried,  which  acted 
more  as  an  emolient  to  my  lady's  overburdened  mind 
and  feelings  than  anything  else  had  done. 

"The  hard  and  determinedly  vicious  look  forsook 
her  face  and  softened  considerably  into  the  charm  of 
her  girlhood.  The  distraught  and  wild  passion 
which  had  distorted  her  sweet  nature  subsided  into 
subdued  and  passive  melancholy,  which  was  per- 
plexing to  her  parents. 

"The  courts  had  granted  her  a  decree  of  divorce, 
she  not  having  to  appear,  as  her  husband  was  a 
convicted  felon  and  awaiting  some  technical  decision 
before  being  established  in  his  permanent  head- 
quarters. 

"Her  mother  became  her  constant  attendant,  thus 
depriving  my  lady  of  the  odious  company  of  Hate. 
And,  thinking  to  arouse  her  from  her  dejected  and 
lethargic  state,  her  parents  opened  their  doors  to 
conventional  society  as  they  never  had  done  before, 
and  it  was  not  long  before  they  noted  a  change  in 
her  demeanor,  but  were  much  grieved  as  she  slowly 
recuperated  that  she  still  retained  the  ambitious 
spirit  of  revenge  which  had  seemed  cancelled. 

92 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Cold-bloodedly  and  without  mirth  she  entered 
into  the  scenes  of  the  most  strenuous  gayeties.  Be- 
ing a  daughter  of  wealth,  her  hand  was  frequently 
sought  in  marriage,  to  which  her  only  answer  was  a 
scornful  laugh  of  derision.  And  if  they  accom- 
panied their  suit  with  a  declaration  of  love,  her 
sarcasm  knew  no  limit  of  language. 

"At  last  a  prince  came  a- wooing.  Together  they 
attended  the  seclusive  amusements  which  the  leaders 
of  the  400  provided  for  them  and  were  the  cynosure 
of  all  eyes. 

"To  obtain  material  to  satisfy  her  vengeful  spirit 
she  had  resorted  to  coquetry  and  conquest,  but  first 
she  had  used  every  endeavor  to  regain,  by  healthful, 
open-air,  disciplining  exercise,  the  sprightly,  elastic 
step  and  robust  constitution  of  former  years,  and  it 
came,  bringing  a  roseate  hue  to  her  complexion  and 
a  frolicsome  brilliancy  to  the  eyes,  which  now  were 
only  lacking  the  soulful  look,  which  was  replaced  by 
contempt. 

"The  problem  of  marriage  she  had  obliterated  en- 
tirely from  her  mode  of  procedure,  but  when  the 
prince  came  and  candidly  confessed  that  it  was  not 
love  he  sought  but  wanted  a  princess  who  was  pos- 
sessed of  great  wealth  to  restore  his  depleted  castles 
to  their  former  splendor  and  wonted  glory,  she 
was  nonplused. 

"His  undisguised,  rare  and  remarkable  candor 
won  her  as  nothing  else  could,  and  with  fairness 
related  her  own  life  to  him.  And  he  expressed  his 

93 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

sympathy  by  asking  her  hand  in  marriage,  saying 
that,  although  wealth  was  his  objective  point,  her 
radiant  beauty  had  captured  his  sensibilities  and  only 
lacked  her  consent  to  pay  her  homage  as  his  princess. 

''She  had  considered  herself  as  adamant,  but 
with  softened  tones  she  referred  him  to  her  father, 
but  with  a  caution  to  say  that  love  had  no  part  in 
the  matter  of  marirage. 

"It  had  not  been  her  father's  ambition  to  have 
royal  honors  bestowed  upon  his  daughter  and  only 
child,  but  the  sad  consequences  of  her  former  mar- 
riage made  him  more  passive,  and,  in  consultation, 
coincided  with  her  mother's  views,  which  might 
prove  to  be  a  blessing  after  all,  for  she  (their 
daughter)  would  be  surrounded  by  environments 
which  would  be  an  entire  change. 

"My  lady  made  one  request.  The  wedding 
should  not  be  celebrated  on  an  elaborate  scale,  but 
quiet  and  simple. 

Thus  it  was  that  on  the  very  day  her  politician 
husband  was  incarcerated  in  his  penitentiary  home 
and  donned  his  apparel  of  stripes  for  penal  servitude, 
she  was  robed  in  wedding  garments  and  became  a 
princess." 

Hope  said :  "What  a  terrible  termination  of  what 
should  or  ought  to  have  been  the  most  loving  and 
conjugal  happiness." 

Joy,  with  spirit,  said:  "Surely  she  considered  her 
revenge  complete.  But  I  cannot  see  where  happiness 
is  triumphant  when  she  has  really  married  for  a  title, 

94 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

just  to  have  the  high-sounding  word  of  princess  pre- 
fixed to  her  name." 

"Yes,"  said  Love,  "I  cannot  account  for  it,  but  it 
does  seem  strange  that  our  beautiful  and  prosperous 
'America,  the  land  of  the  free,'  has  become  so  popu- 
lar as  an  incubator — brooded  by  her  fabulous  wealth 
— for  turning  out  her  young,  lovely  and  talented 
daughters,  whose  only  requisite  is  the  laurel  crown 
to  make  them  regal,  to  again  resume  the  weighty 
ones  worn  by  titled  monarchs  from  which  our  fore- 
fathers gallantly  fought  and  bled,  and  the  slain  con- 
signed to  early  graves  to  absolve  them  from." 

Hope,  with  luminous  features,  said :  "But,  my 
dear  ones,  while  absorbed  gravely  in  this  matter,  do 
not  forget  that  there  is  a  more  superior  one  than 
any  mentioned — which  is  the  crown  of  righteousness 
that  adorns  the  God-head,  the  splendor  of  which  can- 
not be  surpassed. 

"It  is  embellished  with  stones,  which  represent 
every  good  and  worthy  act  performed  on  the  jour- 
ney of  life,  and  duplicated  to  us  when  the  approval 
of  our  past  record  shall  have  been  established.  We 
can  wear  it  in  our  old  age  to  our  honor  and  will 
grace  us  as  we  lie  down  to  rest  in  the  sleep  of 
death." 

With  tears  in  her  eyes,  Love  said :  "Truly,  truly, 
sister  Hope,  that  must  be  the  coronet  which  has  sus- 
tained you  through  your  unfortunate  tribulations. 
Oh,  if  my  lady  could  have  been  gifted  with  such  a 
diadem  she  might  not  have  experienced  such  deep 

95 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

grief  nor  have  had  it  arrested  from  her  by  the 
machinations  which  originate  from  Satan.  Never- 
theless, her  trials  were  as  nothing  compared  with 
yours,  therefore  the  approval  from  on  high  must 
have  been  found  wanting  that  she  did  not  gain  that 
glorious  crown." 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  conversation  of  the  previous  day  had  left  a 
deep  impression  in  the  mind  of  Miss  Joy,  and  the 
following  morning,  when  she  joined  "the  sisters  at 
the  jail,  she  asked : 

"Do  you  believe,  Hope,  that  it  is  man's  nature  to 
transgress  the  laws  of  God?" 

"Sister  Faith  and  I  have  discussed  that  question, 
Joy,  and  decided  that  they  were  created  divinely 
pure,"  said  Hope,  "but  as  a  matter  of  fact  a  terrible 
blight  may  have  been  impressed  on  their  dispositions 
as  a  result  of  prenatal  ignorance  thus  shaping  vari- 
ous forms  of  character.  Improper  training  in  child- 
hood, which  warps  the  mind,  thus  making  it  an  easy 
prey  to  adopt  the  unfit  laws  which  have  reversed  the 
old  Golden  Rule,  'Do  unto  others  as  you  would  that 
they  should  do  unto  you,'  too,  may  have  its  evil 
effects." 

"It  is  no  wonder,"  said  Love,  "that  my  poor  little 
Cupid,  who  is  the  god  of  love  and  the  quintessence 
of  that  rule  and  dominant  spirit  of  true  earthly  hap- 
piness, cannot  be  the  hero  and  occupy  the  highest 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

seat  royally  in  humanity's  realm,  environed  by  the 
staunch  devotees  of  true  worth,  instead  of  revolting, 
deceptive  and  fawning  love  in  all  its  misleading 
forms  which  are  the  insignia  that  leads  the  soul  into 
corruption  or  Hades." 

"But  I  cannot  understand/'  said  Joy,  "why  should 
they  suffer  the  pangs  of  that  place  as  though  brim- 
stone fire  was  burning  their  souls — as  did  my  lady — 
while  in  this  life.  It  is  possible  that  they  may  have 
escaped  punishment  entirely,  but  the  scourge  will  be 
doubly  great  should  they  also  suffer  the  everlasting 
condemnation  beyond  the  grave." 

"It  is  my  belief,  my  sweet  Joy,"  said  Hope,  "that 
it  is  not  the  wisdom  of  God  that  punishment  should 
be  duly  meted  out.  In  His  great  love  and  generosity 
man  was  created  after  His  own  image,  but  giving 
unto  him  a  will  to  exercise  his  own  pleasure,  with 
the  expectation  that  he  would  engross  the  prescribed 
ways  and  laws  of  the  holy  commandments.  But  man 
accepted,  rather,  a  tumultuous  life,  filled  with  un- 
restrained behavior,  thus  creating  not  the  love  of 
God  for  His  benefactions  but  originating  his  own 
volition  of  downfall  by  making  laws  which  are  pol- 
luting to  the  ancestral  race. 

"Especially  will  I  speak  of  the  law-sanctioned 
allowance  of  sensual,  seductive  virtue,  which  is  per- 
mitted to  run  riot  seditiously  at  will,  leaving  its  virus 
to  be  inoculated  in  the  future  destiny  of  —  what 
should  be — our  enlightened  race. 

97 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"The  enumeration  of  the  established  usages  of 
false  doctrine  would  be  interminable.  But,  girls, 
there  is  one  that  is  particularly  heinous  and  revolt- 
ing. Nothing  could  be  more  defamatory  than  that 
men  should  luxuriously  live  and  prosper  by  the 
profits  derived  from  the  white  slave. 

"There  are  legions  of  these  demons  of  Hades,  and 
they  gather  myriads  of  our  gallant  men  and  youths 
and  initiate  them  to  their  doom  among  the  gilded 
satellites  of  Satan.  Why,  in  barbarism  such  licen- 
tiousness is  not  tolerated.  Often  the  female  is  stoned 
or  put  to  death,  while  their  brave  is  boycotted  or 
meets  a  like  fate;  which  destiny,  surely,  can  be  no 
worse  than  is  our  capital  punishment — which  is 
murder  coolly  sanctioned — or  our  war,  that  is 
wholesale  slaughter.'' 

"My  dear  sister  Hope,"  cautioned  Joy,  "do  not 
let  your  mind  dwell  on  this  subject,  lest  you  lose 
hope.  'And  the  hope  of  the  righteous  shall  be  glad- 
ness, but  the  expectations  of  the  wicked  shall  per- 
ish/ " 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

When  Attorney  Goodman  had  solicited  her  con- 
fidence, he  said:  "Miss  Hope,  you  may  talk  to  no 
one  but  me,  but  I  want  and  must  have  your  full 
confession." 

She  had  answered,  "Well,  attorney,  it  is  not 
necessary,  as  I  rescued  the  'sacred  money'  and 
brought  it  back  safely." 

98 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"But  Miss  Hope,"  he  asserted,  "the  community  is 
ready  to  vouch  for  your  distinguishing  qualities, 
estimate  of  character,  reputation  and  habitual 
veracity  prior  to  the  tragic  event  of  the  Bishop's 
death,  but  not  for  this  strange  version,  which  has 
the  appearance  of  random.  It  would  be  inexplicable 
and  have  no  weight  with  the  jury,  and  I  do  not 
wish  to  discourage  you,  but  deem  it  best  that  you 
should  understand  that  I  fear  the  worst. 

"I  believe  if  you  still  remain  obdurate  that  my 
only  alternative  will  be  to  place  you  in  the  witness- 
chair,  which  truly  is  a  very  unusual  course.  By  that 
method  we  could  reveal  the  truth  or  determine  your 
sanity,  but  even  then  I  am  afraid  the  result  will  be 
hazardous." 

Hope,  smiling  tranquilly,  replied:  "Thank  you, 
Attorney  Goodman.  My  only  anguish  is  that  you 
are  worried  unnecessarily,  therefore  I  will  comply 
to  your  request  to  the  degree  requisite.  My  vindica- 
tion rests  with  the  court  of  heaven,  the  decision  of 
which  is  always  with  the  Holy  of  Holies.  I  have  no 
reverential  awe,  for  it  is  the  guilty  that  have  painful 
emotions  excited  by  the  expectation  of  evil." 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  Attorney  Goodman  con- 
scientiously believed  her  insane.  When  he  had  re- 
ceived the  telephone  message  from  Miss  Joy  to  re- 
pair to  the  jail  to  confer  with  Miss  Hope,  he  had 
expected  to  find  her  in  tears  and  spiritless,  therefore 
stood  in  amazement  when  she  wore  not  gloom,  which 
is  the  cloud  from  where  the  tear  drops  issue,  but 

99 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

greeted  him  cheerfully,  while  her  face  was  encircled 
by  the  radiant  grandeur  of  a  smile,  which  was  the 
emblem  bow  of  promise  for  celestial  honors. 

Attorney  Goodman,  being  a  Christian  man  who 
practiced  the  precepts  which  he  frequently  an- 
nounced as  being  the  foundation  of  fair  dealing  with 
others  and  guidance  to  success  in  special  need,  was 
heartily  sympathetic  with  this  extraordinary — here 
he  was  at  a  loss  what  word  to  use,  as  he  could  not 
satisfy  his  mind  to  call  it  tact  not  yet  diplomacy,  but 
might  he  analyze  it  as  angelic? — no  that  would  not 
do,  for  angels  do  not  rob  or  murder.  Criminal — oh, 
not  that  either,  for  who  could  look  at  her,  so  full 
of  trustful  hope — beautiful,  luminous  hope — and  be- 
lieve it?  Yes,  I  have  it  now — dementia — which  de- 
notes loss  of  mental  power.  Therefore,  he  bowed 
his  head  for  a  moment  and  communed  to  the  In- 
visible, All-Powerful  Judge  to  vouchsafe  His  aid  in 
liberating  this  seemingly  spiritual  young  lady  and 
make  it  manifest  that  she  had  no  complicity  or 
understanding  in  the  deed  of  murdering  the  holy 
Bishop. 

As  he  lifted  his  head  with  a  glance  at  Hope,  he 
thought  "How  can  she  with  that  look  of  adoration 
be  classed  as  being  the  criminal  ?  And  it  is  only  He 
— the  Almightly  God — that  can  overthrow  the  pre- 
ponderence  of  evidence  against  her. 

"But  how?"  was  the  question  which  continually 
invaded  his  mind  long  after  he  had  written  down  at 
her  diction  an  almost  incredible  statement  as  to 
100 


THE    LUMP    OE    GOLD 

the  robber  chieftain  giving  her  the  money  and  the 
directions  where  to  find  him,  which  said  to  follow 
one  of  the  many  cattle  trails  beyond  the  city  to  the 
extreme  limit,  which  he  considered  a  hallucination. 

He  placed  a  copy  of  his  statement  in  the  hands 
of  his  own  special  detective,  instructing  him  to  use 
his  utmost  ability  to  find  the  rendezvous  of  the  rob- 
bers' chieftain,  which  would  do  much  to  render 
her  guiltless. 

"But  a  jury  would  ask  point  blank  "why  she 
had  been  there?"  said  the  special  attorney,  and 
said  he,  "At  any  rate,  capture  the  robber  chieftain 
— if  possible — at  all  hazards,  which  the  populace 
believes  to  be  a  myth." 

"Huh,  sir,  I  will  do  my  best,"  said  the  detec- 
tive, as  he  hastened  to  depart.  Explicitly  following 
the  written  directions,  he  went  up  this  street  and 
down  that,  through  intricate  alleys  and  by-streets, 
until  he  reached  what  might  have  been  an  obscure 
part  of  the  city. 

"Huh!  Surely  these  instructions  seem  intention- 
ally misleading,  but  the  young  madamoiselle  shall 
not  abash  me." 

Reaching  the  extreme  suburbs,  which  reflected 
poverty,  nevertheless,  had  never  been  known  as  be- 
ing lawless,  the  scattering  shacks  had  more  the  ap- 
pearance of  being  sleeping  places  after  the  day's 
labor  was  completed  rather  than  abiding  homes. 

He  continued  to  the  limits,  where  he  was  at  a 
loss  to  designate  the  trail  mentioned,  but  choosing 
101 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

the  one  most  frequented  he  ventured  on,  presum- 
ing that  stock  from  the  dairymen's  stalls  had  trav- 
ersed it,  for  soon  it  diverged  into  various  ways 
among  the  picturesque  little  hills  abounding.  He 
followed  several  until  they  became  only  faint  out- 
lines, each  time  having  to  retrace  his  footsteps. 
Good  naturedly,  he  said :  "Huh !  These  byways 
were  made  by  the  domesticated  cows  honestly 
searching  for  food  whereby  they  may  serve  lacteous 
fluid  to  the  city's  inhabitants. 

"Well,  here  is  one  more,"  and  he  kept  in  its 
course,  when  suddenly  he  was  aware  that  it  came 
to  an  abrupt  terminal  at  the  edge  of  a  deep  water- 
washed  gully. 

"Huh !  I  won't  be  abashed,"  said  he.  "I'll  look 
at  the  writing:  'Follow  the  cattle  trails  beyond 
the  city  to  the  extreme  limit/ "  he  read  aloud. 
"Huh,"  said  he,  "haven't  I  followed  them  all,  and 
they  migrated  into  nothing,  excepting  this  one, 
which  has  turned  out  to  be  a  buncoe.  Huh !  and 
that  is  what  Miss  Hope  has  clone — buncoed  Attor- 
ney Goodman." 

Filled  with  disappointment,  he  inferred  that  his 
quest  was  at  an  end  and  with  chagrin  said :  "Huh ! 
Jehu,  the  pesky  robbers  made  an  exit  somewhere, 
and  I'll  be  blamed  if  I  go  back  and  not  accomplish 
my  purpose.  Huh!  I'll  just  rack  my  brain  a  little 
more  over  this  difficult  situation.  Huh!  That 
ditch  is  pretty  deep.  Huh !  Jehu !  If  this  trail 
don't  keep  right  on  down  the  side  in  sort  of  an 
102 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

incline  fashion  to  the  very  bottom  unless  my  eyes 
are  deceiving  me." 

"Jehu!  Huh!  I'll  take  a  run  down  the  track 
and  see  where  it  leads.  There  is  no  grass  there,  so 
the  cattle  did  not  make  it,  that  is  certain.  Huh! 
But  I  am  in  for  it  now  and  will  follow  to  the  ex- 
treme limit,  and  sure  as  I  live  more  than  one  has 
trampled  here,  and  many  times,  too.  Huh!  And 
her  little  feet  could  not  have  made  such  a  showing, 
and  the  tracks  still  keep  .-square  down  the  old 
water  run. 

"Huh!  What  does  it  mean?  Well,  Jehu,  my 
curiosity  is  ahead  of  me  now,  and  I  hope  the  end 
will  not  be  bitter." 

On  and  on  he  went,  perhaps  for  miles,,  and 
worn  with  fatigue  he  felt  that  he  must  give  up. 
Still,  the  singularity  of  this  trail  urged  him  on,  but 
ahead  he  saw  a  hill  that  turned  the  course,  which 
he  felt  that  he  must  inspect,  for  it  might  reveal 
a  clue  to  what  he  sought. 

"It  is  queer  Miss  Hope  did  not  definitely  describe 
this  unusual  and  delusive  trail  if  she  passed  over 
it,"  he  murmured,  as  he  sat  down  to  rest  and  par- 
took bountifully  of  his  abundant  supply  of  re- 
freshments. 

"Huh !  Jehu  !  Heh  !"  he  exclaimed  as  he  arose. 
"This  nourishment  to  my  body  gives  added  strength 
and  increased  vigor  so  that  I  now  can  explore  this 
ditch  to  the  end.  It  must  have  been  one  of  Nature's 
freaks,  for  it  shows  that,  perhaps  for  ages,  the 
103 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

storms  have  sent  a  generous  supply  of  water 
coursing  its  way  through  this,  which  at  first  must 
have  been  a  very  small  crevice." 

Nothing  daunted,  he  resumed  his  journey.  "After 
I  reach  the  hill,"  he  reflected,  "if  nothing  more  of 
consequence  comes  to  view,  I  will  retrace  my  steps, 
that  I  may  arrive  at  Attorney  Goodman's  office  be- 
fore night  comes  on.  But,  huh!  Jehu!  I  cannot 
understand  this  much  trodden  trail,  and  the  chan- 
nel here  is  widening  as  it  turns  to  the  left.  Huh! 
I  must  go  ahead  and  see  if  there  is  anything  very 
confounding  at  the  terminus  of  this  wonderful  old 
gully. 

"Huh !  Jehu !  I  can  understand  the  gully,  but 
not  this  astonishing  trail.  Huh!  I  see  now!  It 
empties  in  that  gulch  at  the  intersection  of  those 
two  hills,  one  of  which  this  depth  had  excluded 
from  my  view. 

"Jehu !  Huh  !  I  cannot  return  now,  for  the  foot- 
pads continue  through  this  gulch,  so  there  must  be 
some  kind  of  a  Jehu  of  a  junket  in  these  quarters 
somewhere,  and  if  Miss  Hope  had  the  audacity  to 
ransack  such  a  thoroughfare  as  this  she  had  a  reason 
for  doing  so,  and  I  am  going  to  investigate  it  to 
the  very  core.  Huh !  Jehu  !  I  am,  you  know." 

He  had  walked  briskly  as  his  absorbed  mind  ex- 
pressed  itself   with   interspersed   ejaculations,   and 
soon  he  was  rewarded  by  a  change  of  scene  as  he 
passed  from  between  the  two  hills. 
104 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Huh !  Jehu !  Huh !  If  this  course  had  not 
have  made  a  complete  turn  it  would  have  swamped 
that  pretty  little  knoll  over  there,  you  may  call  me 
by  some  other  name  besides  Detective  Jere  Davis, 
so  help  me  Jehu. 

"Je-mima !  Huh !  This  trail  leaves  this  particu- 
lar gulch  and  begins  to  climb  up  toward  that  knoll, 
so  I  will  out  of  this,  too !  Well,  Jehu !  Huh !  I 
wonder  who  is  distraught  now?"  he  exclaimed  as 
he  stooped  down  and  picked  up  a  lady's  slipper  at 
the  top  where  the  trail  made  its  exit  from  the  deep 
gulch.  "Could  it  be  that  Miss  Hope  had  lost  it? 

"Yes  !  Jehu  !  Huh !  I  remember  now  that  the 
special  policeman  mentioned  that  she  wore  a  mis- 
mated  slipper  on  her  return.  Some  way,  I  am 
sorry  I  found  it.  But,  huh !  Jehu !  I  can't  stop 
now  to  think  or  inquire  into  the  whys  and  where- 
fores of  it,  now  that  I  have  a  decided  clue. 

"But  je-mima!  Huh!  Jehu!  What  do  I  per- 
ceive there,  on  the  very  top  of  that  knoll?  A  cot- 
tage, as  I  live !  Jehu  !  Huh  !  With  in  a  fine  clus- 
ter of  shade  trees,  too? 

"I  will  precisely  ascend ;  perhaps  a  still  greater 
surprise  awaits  me.  Huh! 

"Huh !  Je-mima !  Jehu !  It  is  a  little,  old-fash- 
ioned cottage  almost  hidden  from  view  by  the  un- 
restrained luxurious  growth  of  shrubbery  which 
quite  envelops  it.  Huh!  If  tenanted,  it  shows 
they  must  have  been  mighty  shiftless.  Huh !  Jehu ! 
105 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Originally  it  was  painted  white  with  green  win- 
dow blinds.  And  here  is  a  dilapidated,  quaint  old 
picket  fence,  which  looks  as  though  it  would 
tumble  down  at  the  least  provocation.  Huh ! 

"Jehu !  This  gate  swings  all  right.  It  has  one 
good  hinge,  but  the  other  has  been  substituted  by 
a  piece  of  leather  of  recent  application,  as  the  nails 
are  yet  bright  and  not  rusty.  Huh !" 

Every  thought  of  weariness  had  vanished  at  this 
discovery,  and  with  agility  he  proceeded  to  look 
over  the  premises.  Passing  up  the  walk  he  noticed 
that  the  grass  was  worn  by  late  date  footsteps. 
Arriving  at  the  door  he  raised  the  voluminous  old 
knocker  and  as  it  fell  the  sound  echoed  loudly  in 
clanging  tones,  reverberating  the  accents  from  un- 
hung walls,  drapeless  windows  and  uncovered 
floors. 

Patiently  he  listened  for  approaching  footsteps, 
but  at  the  sound  of  none  he  again  gave  the  knocker 
a  more  forceful  strike,  saying: 

"Huh!  That  ought  to  fetch  them  if  near,  or 
awaken  if  sleeping.  This  must  be  the  place  where 
the  robbers  roosted,  and  they  do  their  work  at 
night  and  close  their  eyes  by  day.  Huh ! 

"But,  huh  !  Jehu  !  They  must  have  flitted  when 
they  sent  her  back  with  that  money  and  warned  her 
not  to  tell.  Huh !" 

Meditating  thus,  he  turned  to  survey  the  sur- 
roundings, which  increased  his  enthusiasm  as  his 
eyes  took  in  the  remarkable  little  landscape.  There 
106 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

were  two  or  three  acres  of  most  fertile  and  tillable 
soil  with  a  brook  gliding  through  the  plot  while  it 
coquettishly  trickled  a  goo-goo,  gurgling  sound  as 
it  briskly  wended  its  way  toward  the  beautiful  hills 
and  stealthily  crept  at  the  base  between  the  two 
higher  ones. 

"Huh !  Jehu !  A  prettier  little  nook  could  not 
be  found/'  he  exclaimed,  as  he  tried  the  door,  which 
responded  to  his  touch. 

"Huh!  The  key  is  in  the  lock  on  the  inside, 
showing  a  hasty  retreat  by  the  residers,  or  possibly 
carelessness,  or  expecting  a  speedy  return,  which 
they  have  failed  to  do.  Huh ! 

"Well,  jehu!  Huh!  At  any  rate,  I  will  press 
my  investigations  and  in  the  meantime  keep  a 
sharp  lookout  for  any  liable  intruder  that  might  be 
lurking  around  while  I  reconnoiter." 

Sauntering  through  a  small  hall  and  into  the 
other  rooms,  he  said:  "Huh!  Four  rooms  and 
a  hall.  It  has  been  a  nice  little  cottage,  all  right. 
Huh !  Here  is  a  door.  I  suppose,  another  bed- 
room, and — Huh!  Jehu !  If  I  do  not  find  more  in 
this  one  than  the  trampings  of  dirty  feet,  and  where 
mice  have  held  their  revelrous  fandangoes  there  will 
not  be  much  to  let  my  language  flow  over. 

"Well,  je-mima  !  Jehu  !  It  is  not  often  one  finds 
a  pile  of  clean,  bright  straw  heaped  up  as  though 
for  a  bed,  easily  throwing  blankets  over  for  cover- 
ings. 

107 


THE    LUMP    OK    GOLD 

"Huh!  And  this  looks  like  housekeeping,  with 
this  old  barrel  turned  upside  down,  with  a  news- 
paper for  a  table  cloth  and  a  rickety  old  chair  be- 
side it.  Huh !  Jehu !  They  had  things  to  eat, 
too,  for  here  are  the  remnants  of  a  delicate  and 
appetizing  lunch.  Sardines,  quail  on  toast,  and 
cocoa,  which  must  be  stale,  having  stood  in  that 
tin  cup  so  long.  Huh!  Not  a  bad  meal,  though, 
and  denotes  being  prepared  for  a  lady  of  refinement, 
as  a  masculine  would  have  gulped  it  all  down  at 
a  morsel,  and  not  nibbled  and  sipped  at  it  in  that 
dainty  fashion.  Huh! 

"Well !  Jehu !  Huh !  Queer  things  do  happen 
in  this  world,  which  look  surprising  and  suspicious 
as  well.  But,  huh!  I  am  glad  there  is  no  one 
around  to  hear  me  say  so,  as  I  did  set  a  mighty 
store  by  that  girl — Miss  Hope.  Her  conscience 
must  have  pricked  her,  for  she  had  not  much  of 
an  appetite,  and  I  reckon  her  mind  was  absorbed  in 
inventing  a  plan  to  clear  her  actions.  Huh !  Jehu  ! 
What  is  that  on  the  straw?  A  hairpin,  so  bless 
me !  Huh !  Je-mima !  Jehu  !  A  hairpin  to  put 
with  the  slippers !  Huh !  I  wonder  what  next  ? 
Can  she  really  be  guilty?''  he  asked,  as  a  shudder 
passed  over  him. 

"Huh !  Jehu !  I  should  heartily  regret  to  find 
her  so,  she  having  been  such  a  beautiful  and  Chris- 
tian young  lady. 

"Well,  well!  Huh!  Jehu!  Huh!  One  can 
never  tell  what  deviltry  is  in  the  heart  while  the 
108 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

angel  looks  through  the  eyes,  and  she  was  a  mighty 
sweet  angel,  too.  Huh! 

"Jehu!  If  I  am  moonstruck  like  this  my  under- 
pinning will  give  out,  too,  so  I  will  haste  away  and 
see  if  there  is  anything  else.  Huh !  Yes,  there  is," 
he  exclaimed,  as  he  espied  behind  the  chair  a  little 
white  handkerchief,  and  with  scarlet  face  and 
bulging  eyes  he  clutched  the  dainty  fabric  and  held 
it  up  by  the  two  corners  with  both  hands. 

"Huh!  Jehu!  Great  Scott!  Jemima!  Here  is 
the  initial  "H" — for  Hope — I  wish  I  had  not  found 
it,  or  any  of  these  other  articles.  Huh !  I  attended 
the  Bishop's  church  and  frequently  his  reunions, 
and  saw  her  there,  and  always  as  one  of  the  pro- 
moters. Huh!  Surely  since  she  is  guilty,  I  have 
lost  faith  in  all  women. 

"And  Jehu!  Jemima!  Attorney  Goodman  can- 
not save  her  now  by  proving  her  crazy.  Huh! 
Jehu!  I  am  tempted  to  hide  this  in  my  pocket. 
Huh !  Jehu !  What  would  the  knowing  ones  say 
if  they  knew  that  I — Jere  Davis,  the  detective  of 
felonies,whose  heart  should  be  strong — had  moist- 
ened eyes  as  he  twirled  this  tiny  bit  of  linen  be- 
tween the  fore  finger  and  thumbs  of  his  two  big 
hands. 

"Huh!  The  jury  shall  not  convict  her  with  this 
trifle.  And,  Jehu !  Bless  me,  I  will  make  way 
with  all  these  other  little  death-dealing  tell-tales, 
too.  Huh !  Well,  I  can  eat  the  lunch  and  toss  the 

109 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

straw  up  in  the  corner  as  though  it  had  lain  there 
for  years  in  this  dry  and  pure  atmosphere. 

"Huh !  Then,  as  for  the  barrel,  that  is  easily 
rolled  down  the  slope,  while  the  chair  is  sent  flying 
through  that  window  into  the  old  shed.  Huh !  No 
one  will  be  the  wiser  and  then  Miss  Hope  will  have 
no  convincing  and  inevitable  proofs  to  establish 
her  guilt. 

"Huh!  Why,  Jehu!  What  am  I  talking  about? 
Surely,  too,  then  I  would  be  a  criminal !  Jere 
Davis,  the  time-honored  and  always  responsible  em- 
ployee of  trust,  become  an  abettor  to  crime  ?  Jehu ! 
Huh !  No,  that  won't  do. 

"But,  huh!  That  saintly  face  of  Miss  Hope's 
comes  in  between  me  and  my  duty.  Huh !  What 
if  she  is  innocent,  and  I  should  take  these  rattle- 
traps and  condemn  her  ?  Huh !  I  wonder  what 
that  good  and  religiously  wise  old  Bishop  would 
have  advised  me  to  do? 

"He  used  to  repeat  the  14th  verse  of  the  XXXIV 
Chapter  of  Psalms  frequently  to  us  as  a  sort  of 
maxim,  he  said,  to  guide  us  through  life,  in  our 
principles.  Huh!  So  I  will  just  say  it  over  now 
as  my  regulator  at  this  very  moment:  'Depart 
from  evil  and  do  good ;  seek  peace  and  pursue  it.' 
Huh !  I  am  more  confounded  than  ever. 

"Huh!     If  I  knew  which  road  evil  took,  Jehu! 
I  would  take  the  other,  which  would  be  sure  to  be 
the  one  Miss  Hope  had  chosen,  and  hunt  up  peace, 
to  help  that  young  lady  to  pursue  it. 
110 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"But,  huh!  Jemima!  If  I  ran  after  her  with 
these  blamed,  pesky  little  articles  in  my  possession 
they  would  appropriate  them — Huh !  and  hang  her 
sure.  Huh !  Blessed  if  I  know  what  to  do. 

"Huh !  The  good  Bishop  would  quote  more 
scripture  and  abide  by  it.  But  he  had  the  Bible 
on  the  end  of  his  tongue,  but  mine  is  too  thick 
to  spit  it  out,  even  if  I  had  it  there.  Huh!  But 
I  will  have  to  get  at  it  in  some  manner  to  find  out 
what  to  do  in  this  unusual  case. 

"Huh!  Let  me  think.  Yes,  I  am  certain  that 
the  Bishop  gave  us  the  IV  chapter  of  Psalms,  or 
where  it  said :  'Offer  the  sacrifices  of  righteous- 
ness and  put  your  trust  in  the  Lord/ 

"Huh!  Jemima!  And  that  is  JUST  what  I  will 
do.  These  little  sacrifices  I  will  turn  over  to  Attor- 
ney Goodman  and  then  drop  the  rest  to  the  Lord." 

Thereupon,  having  settled  the  intricate  question 
satisfactorily  in  his  mind  he  continued  his  investiga- 
tions. Unlatching  the  kitchen  door  he  stepped  out 
on  a  small  porch  and  said,  as  he  looked  over  the 
banister : 

"Huh  !  Jehu  !  Huh  !  This  is  not  quite  perpen- 
dicular, but  a  more  abruptly  oblique  view  of  this 
knoll  than  the  gentle  slope  in  front.  Huh !  There 
is  a  path.  There  are  so  many  with  such  astonish- 
ing terminals  I  will  take  a  turn  down  this  one,  too. 
Huh!  Here  is  a  fine  spring.  One  always  clashes 
upon  the  unexpected  without  a  moment's  warning. 
Jehu!  Come  to  think  of  it  I  ought  to  have  known 
111 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

there  was  a  fountain  at  the  head  to  supply  that 
little  brooklet  with  swift  running  water  to  wash 
the  feet  of  those  t\vo  modest  and  unassuming  hills. 

"Huh !  No  one  but  the  Bishop's  God  would  have 
thought  of  making  this  enchanting  knoll  into  such 
an  excellent  canopy  to  shelter  the  enormous  reser- 
voir which  must  supply  that  spring  with  its  crystal 
water." 

Dreamily  he  sat  down  and  gazed  into  the  depths 
of  Nature's  fluid,  which  had  been  walled  with  stones 
in  circular  form. 

"Huh!  This  is  entrancing  to  watch  that  crysta- 
line  fluid  as  it  comes  gushing,  gurgling  and  forcing 
its  twinkling  bubbles  through  that  small  aperture 
in  the  earth  seeking  the  light  of  day,  as  though  be- 
ing tired  of  its  restraining  quarters  and  ambitious 
for  activity. 

"Huh !  And  there  is  no  other  beverage  more  de- 
licious to  quaff,"  he  continued  to  soliloquize,  as  he 
stooped  and  drank  copiously  from  an  old  tin  cup. 
"Huh!  And  bestow  such  energy  through  every 
nerve  of  the  system. 

"Huh!  This  is  a  nice,  mossy  rock  on  which  to 
recline,  therefore,  I  will  rest,  as  I  cannot  reach 
home  tonight,  besides,  this  place  has  sort  of  a 
charming,  sanctified  attraction  to  me. 

"My  calling — being  that  of  a  detective — plunges 

me  in  a  vortex  of  transgressions,  filled  from  the 

slums  where  exists  the  sluggard  and  indulgencies 

in  the  most  nefarious  of  crimes.     Therefore — huh ! 

112 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

it  seems  quite  like  a  manner  of  salvation  to  repose 
quietly  in  this  hallowed  place. 

"Huh!  That  pearly  water  issuing  forth  from  its 
receptacle  in  purity — like  mankind  born  free  from 
sin — wends  its  way  and  glides  over  Nature's  diver- 
siform, uniting  with  a  rill  here,  a  brooklet  there, 
then  merging  into  a  river  yonder,  gathering  quan- 
tities of  the  most  murky  slime  from  the  abominable 
pestilential  sources,  becomes  contaminated  to  the 
highest  degree.  Huh!  And  an  ample  draught,  as 
I  have  just  drank,  would  inflict  a  morbid  condition 
to  the  body  and  engender  the  most  dangerous  of 
diseases. 

"But  it  is  not  beyond  redemption,  for  it  glides 
into  the  arms  of  a  river  which  hurriedly  rushes  it 
to  its  parent  Ocean,  who  receives  it  in  her  mighty 
motherly  embrace  and  rocks  and  rolls  in  the  trans- 
parent, absolving  and  most  purifying  of  her  fluids 
until  not  a  vestige  of  its  diseased  state  is  apparent. 

"Then  the  awe  of  resurrection  is  made  manifest — 
the  fleecy,  filmy  cloud  flits  from  the  rising  atmos- 
pheric fluid  resembling  the  diaphanous  covering  of 
a  veil,  and  again  floats  off  in  ardent  aspiration  for 
virtual  valor." 

Thus  he  sat  philosophizing  and  communing  with 
nature  until  shadowy  evening  drew  near  and  Luna's 
full,  beaming  face  appeared  straining  her  eyes 
eagerly  to  catch  a  peep  at  Old  Sol,  who  had  ungal- 
lantly  dodged  behind  the  horizon. 

"Huh!  Old  Sol  is  a  foxy  old  gent.  Huh!  Per- 
113 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

haps  not  more  than  I,  for  the  longer  I  dilly-dally 
with  these  trinkets — which  they  will  style  corrobor- 
ating proof — will  extend  the  time  for  Miss  Hope  to 
face  that  horrible  trial. 

"Huh !  Jemima !  I  suppose  it  will  always  re- 
main a  mystery  why  she  left  this  sylvan  retreat  to 
return  to  what  she  must  have  known  to  be  a  prison 
cell,  merrily  bringing  'Uncle's  Sacred  Money,'  with 
not  a  mark  of  anxiety  or  perverse  moral  principle 
on  her  placid  angelic  features. 

"Huh!  Jemima!  Why  did  she  not  stay?  Huh! 
After  all,  her  stay  was  quite  lengthy,  and  it  was 
a  miracle  that  she  escaped  or  was  allowed  to  get  her 
liberty.  Huh !  Nobody  but  Miss  Hope,  with  her 
saintly  ways,  could  have  accomplished  it,  let  alone 
procuring  that  money  from  that  dare-devil  robber 
chieftain. 

"Huh !  Jehu !  I  will  turn  in  now  and  tomor- 
row I  will  deliver  all  these  sacrifices  to  Attorney 
Goodman  as  I  agreed.  Huh !  The  Bishop,  in  his 
life,  would  have  patted  my  shoulder,  saying:  'Well 
done,  my  good  and  faithful  servant.'  " 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

"So,  ho!  Hidalgo.  Is  it  thus  you  obey  the  com- 
mands of  your  chieftain  ?  Unhand  thy  victim !" 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  my  noble  chief,  but  this  'son 
of  a  gun'  was  on  the  point  of  wiping  out  my  career 
by  depriving  me  of  my  vital  bearings,  and  if  I 
114 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

loosen  my  grip  he  will  put  that  iron  of  his  in  mo- 
tion. Then,  'la-chunk'  tumbles  over  Hidalgo  kiss- 
ing this  confounded  alkali." 

"For  shame!  You  pledged  your  word — and  that 
implies  your  honor — that  you  would  not  again  de- 
luge your  blade  with  human  blood.  I  charged  you 
that  if  you  valued  me  as  your  chieftain  not  to  do 
so,  and  here  I  find  you  with  your  dagger  raised. 
Had  I  not  arrived  at  this  opportune  moment  it 
would  ere  this  have  been  driven  into  the  heart  of 
this  man  who  has  been  no  enemy  of  thine." 

"Thy  censure  is  worthy  of  you,  Chief  Rudolph, 
but  this  wretch  pressed  me  into  service." 

"Nay,  nay,  Hidalgo.  If  I  foresee  rightly  this 
man's  caravan  was  quietly  and  peacefully  travers- 
ing this  'Death  Valley.'  " 

"I  submit  with  alacrity,  noble  chief,  to  make  my 
assurance  good  of  not  wantonly  taking  the  life  of 
any  man,  but  believe  me,  my  own  apparatus  was 
in  immediate  danger." 

"I  know,  I  know,  Hidalgo,  and  I  trusted  you,  for 
I  believed  that  there  was  honor  among  our  robber 
band,  and  I  classed  you,  not  with  the  supposed  law- 
abiding  municipal  corporations  that  are  often  full 
of  corruption,  with  no  dignity  of  reputation,  integ- 
rity or  honorable  intent." 

"My  worthy  chief,  I  thank  you,  and  I  would  lay 
my  life  at  your  feet  rather  than  betray  your  cred- 
ence. Your  word  has  been  my  law  since  the  day 
you  rescued  me  from  drowning  in  those  black, 
115 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

turbulent  waters,  at  the  risk  of  your  own  life,  where 
I  had  dashed  to  break  the  trail  of  my  pursuers,  who, 
had  they  have  caught  me,  would  have  thrust  me 
behind  prison  bars,  where  I  would  have  lain  lan- 
guishing for  months  awaiting  trial  for  ditching  a 
train,  for  which  I  was  not  the  guilty  party,  although 
I  saw  it  done.  The  perpetrators  making  good  their 
escape  over  the  precipice,  I  had  stopped  a  moment 
in  case  that  I  could  render  assistance,  but  an  officer 
tapped  me,  saying: 

"  'Ah !  Here  is  the  train  smasher.  We  have 
him  corraled  now.' 

"  'Not  if  I  know  it,'  said  I,  as  my  feet  cast  their 
echoing,  shadowy  footsteps  behind  me.  Nor  did  I 
stop  until  I  reached  the  stream  and  took  the  plunge, 
as  business  had  been  stagnant  of  late  and  money 
was  tight  for  bail  security.  You  remember  it,  don't 
you?" 

"Yes ;  very  well,  but  Hidalgo,  will  you  arise  ?" 

"I  am  at  your  service,  chief,  and  humble  myself 
before  you,  although  I  am  employed  at  this  mo- 
ment sitting  on  this  man,  'Shorty  Porpoise/  pin- 
ning him  to  this  potash  earth." 

Shorty,  making  a  vigorous  effort  to  get  up, 
shouted : 

"Let  me  up,  you  black  imp!" 

"No,  you  don't  get  up,  Mr.  Shorty  Porpoise.    No, 
sir.    I've  just  squatavoused  on  you  for  a  little  rec- 
reation, but  with  no  intention  of  steeling  you  with 
my  knife,  unless  compelled." 
116 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"When  my  deputies  informed  me  that  you  were 
nearing  Death  Valley  sands,  I  put  my  calculations 
in  motion,  to  trot  you  off  to  our  quiet  retreat  to  be 
entertained — where  my  home  has  been  since  my 
chief  pulled  me  back  from  going  over  the  brink  into 
eternity  by  fishing  me  out  of  the  depths,  where  I 
had  sunk,  gurgling,  gurgling,  the  second  time  from 
downright  exhaustion — and  hold  you  for  a  ransom, 
just  as  my  chief  tells  me  a  body  politic  and  the  city 
demagogues  unite  in  holding  up  the  inhabitants  for 
plunder — and  high-flyingly  call  it  graft,  and  the  ex- 
ample has  met  with  quite  an  universal  following. 
So,  so,  my  noble  chief,"  he  continued,  as  he  gazed 
with  an  admiring  look  at  his  superior,  "still  they 
are  not  considered  outlaws,  therefore,  no  judgment 
can  be  secured." 

"That  may  be,  Hidalgo,  but  you  have  no  ap- 
parent duty  in  shedding  blood.  Place  your  steel 
in  its  scabbard,  that  you  might  not  in  an  uncon- 
scious passion  prick  the  veins  of — "  The  sentence 
was  never  finished,  for  there  were  two  ringing  re- 
ports from  a  pistol  and  the  animal  that  the  chief 
was  riding  sank  groaning  to  the  earth,  and  he 
exclaimed:  "My  God,  my  horse  is  shot." 

Unconsciously,  while  conversing  with  Rudolph, 
Hidalgo  had  relaxed  his  iron  grip  on  Shorty's 
wrists,  and  the  quivering  aim  from  the  pistol,  which 
he  had  managed  to  grasp,  went  astray  from  its  mark 
and  shot  the  horse. 

117 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Hi!  Yi!"  fiendishly  yelled  Hidalgo,  the  Greek, 
as  he  placed  his  hand  on  the  hilt  of  his  dagger. 
"Shoot,  will  you?  Shoot  your  deliverer  from 
death,  inhuman  barbarian,  that  you  are,"  and 
like  a  maniac,  again  he  raised  his  dagger,  which 
Rudolph  saw  and  said :  "No,  no,  Hidalgo,  there 
is  blood  enough  flowing  already.  Down !  I  say, 
down !  and  shield  that  dagger,  and  hasten  to  my  as- 
sistance ;  perhaps  we  can  save  this  noble  animal." 

"Ey,  ey !  my  master.  This  blood-thirsty  savage  is 
at  your  mercy,  not  mine."  Saying  which,  he  drew 
a  sinew  from  his  pocket  and  continued :  "But  I 
must  bind  this  driveling,  dragoon  sort  of  a  monster 
— Shorty  Porpoise — with  these  deer  thongs  so  tight 
I  will  venture  my  life  that  he  cannot  get  another 
grab  at  that  self-cocker,  and  to  make  sure  'his  feet 
shall  be  sinewed,  too." 

"Here,  Jeff  Johnson.  Look  after  this  sea  mon- 
ster that  would  like  to  make  rivers  of  blood  flow 
in  this  desert  land.  See !  It  is  coming  in  torrents 
from  that  wounded  horse."  And  turning  to  Ru- 
dolph, who  sat  stroking  the  mane,  said :  "That 
bloodhound  of  a  monster !  Only  for  the  love  of 
you,  my  generous  chieftain,  I  had  it  in  my  heart 
to  run  him  through.  Why  you,  too,  are  bleeding." 

"That  is  nothing,  my  loyal  Hidalgo,  for  I  would 
sacrifice  my  very  existence  to  save  that  of  my  horse. 
Oh,  how  he  suffers !  See  his  vital  life-blood  gush- 
ing from  the  injury.  It  is  an  ugly  torn  looking  rent. 
Have  I  nothing  with  which  to  close  it? 
118 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Ah !  Here  is  the  handkerchief  that  Miss  Hope 
bound  on  my  finger  the  day  I  cut  it  with  my  knife, 
and  still  retains  the  spots  of  blood  which  I  will 
unite  with  that  of  yours,  my  faithful  horse,  in  this, 
what  might  be  the  last  throes  of  death. 

"If  your  life,  my  beautiful  steed,  is  severed — 
after  having  quenched  that  crimson  flood  with  this 
little  morsel  of  linen,  kept  in  token  of  the  pre- 
ponderate love  that  imperceptibly  entered  my  heart 
for  that  holy  young  lady — there  will  remain  only 
that  love  an  oasis  in  my  memory  learned  at  the 
knoll  cottage. 

"Wherein,  too,  I  was  taught  that  the  purity  of 
the  all-absorbing  love  of  a  virgin  should  not  be 
more  than  that  of  man,  and  the  defilement  of  which 
was  to  sacrifice  their  lives  to  perpetual  doom. 

"Ah,  my  noble  warrior,  that  little  love  token 
stanches  the  flow  but  does  not  stay  your  life,  which 
is  fast  ebbing  away. 

"My  warrior,  my  warrior,  I  would  bear  your 
pain,  but  am  powerless  to  do  more  than  give  you 
my  heartfelt  caresses  to  soothe  your  agony" 

"Chief,  my  honored  chief,"  cried  Hidalgo,  "let 
me  close  your  wound.  Please  listen  to  me,  oh, 
chief !  Chief !  oh,  chief,  listen !  Chief,  for  the  love 
of  that  God — Miss  Hope's  God  you  called  Him — 
whom  you  asked  us  to  reverence  above  everything 
else  and  worship  truthfully  and  sincerely,  as  did 
she  with  every  throb  of  the  heart.  Listen,  oh, 
119 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

listen !  and  take  heed  that  Hidalgo  is  overwrought 
with  grief  and  wants  to  dress  your  wound." 

"I  am  attentive  to  you,  my  Hidalgo,  and  appre- 
ciative. But  my  wound  is  nothing  to  that  of  my 
noble  animal,  my  warrior,  my  horse.  Here, 
Hidalgo,  lie  his  head  upon  my  lap !  Ah,  that  is 
better.  Now,  my  suffering  steed,  whose  dam  was 
Princess  Diana,  one  of  Arabia's  purest  blood,  and 
sired  by  Ormand,  the  god  of  America's  ambitious 
heights,  can  you  see  Rudolph,  your  devoted  master, 
who  is  talking  to  you  and  whose  heart  is  rent  in 
anguish  as  your  kindly  eyes  seem  to  look  into  his 
pleadingly,  with  the  assurance  that  he  now  can 
restore  your  waning  faculties  as  he  formerly 
relieved  your  wants." 

Again  Hidalgo,  who  could  restrain  his  grief  no 
longer,  tried  to  arouse  his  chief. 

"Chief,  Chief  Rudolph,  you,  too,  are  bleeding 
profusely  and  growing  paler.  Here  is  a  sinew,  let 
me  bandage  your  arm  to  check  the  flow.  My  God, 
chief,  it  is  broken !" 

Raising  a  whistle  to  his  lips  he  blew  a  shrill, 
startling  note,  which  brought  one  of  the  trusties 
hastily  to  him. 

"Jim,  mount  the  swiftest  horse  belonging  to  the 
band  and  ride  for  your  life  to  the  nearest  surgeon, 
no  matter  where,  and  bring  him  hither.  Tell  him 
the  life  of  a  human  being  depends  on  his  rapidity 
and  accelerating  speed  to  relieve  the  profusion  of 
blood  and  set  the  bones  of  a  broken  arm.  And  Jim, 
120 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

when  you  reach  the  forks  blindfold  and  give  him  a 
few  swift  turns  in  a  circle,  and  we  will  carry  our 
fainting  chief  on  a  stretcher  and  meet  you  at  the 
retreat." 

Hidalgo,  having  dispatched  the  trusty,  again  re- 
sumed his  seat  at  the  side  of  the  chief,  who  was  still 
stroking  his  horse  and  uttering  sorrowing  words,  as 
though  the  animal  had  the  intellectual  endowment  to 
understand. 

"My  warrior,  oh,  my  warrior.  Look  at  me,  your 
master,  once  more,  to  whom  you  were  so  devoted 
and  by  your  superior  strength  and  volition  lent  your 
utmost  speed  over  plains,  deserts,  hills  and  moun- 
tains, often  leaping  precipices  and  other  obstructions 
to  prevent  the  degredation  of  his  being  arrested  and 
arraigned  as  a  robber  chieftain.  No  practitioner  of 
the  law  ever  worked  with  more  zeal  for  his  client 
than  you  labored  for  me. 

"Yes,  my  warrior,  and  I  am  lavishing  my  fondest 
endearments  upon  you,  my  best  beloved  excepting 
one — you  know  her,  Hope,  my  angel — on  earth. 
And  I  must  tell  you  that  your  master,  too,  is  dying 
and  the  tears  he  is  raining  upon  you  are  but  the 
dewdrops  of  death  from  his  own  brow,  and  together, 
my  warrior,  oh,  my  warrior,  our  spirits  will  take 
flight  and  our  bodies  will  find  their  final  rest  in  this 
remote  region  and  sandy  depths,  where  our  good 
angel  will  seek  and  hover  over  us — not  through 
fear,  but  with  the  hope  of  our  spiritual  welfare  and 

salvation.    * 

121 


THE    LUMP     OF    GOLD 

"Ah,  my  trusty  steed,  how  depressed  is  your 
breath.  Truly  the  woe  of  death  is  upon  you,  which 
convinces  me  that  my  own  waning  vitality  is  near, 
but  I  cannot,  oh,  I  cannot,  repose  quietly  and  watch 
you  first  to  pass  into  eternity's  door. 

"Here,  Hidalgo,  give  him  a  sip  of  water  from 
your  canteen,  to  revive  and  aid  him  in  his  efforts  to 
prolong  his  diminishing  breath.  How  lucky  that  we 
taught  him  to  drink.  And  Hidalgo,  I  am  growing 
weak.  Promise  that  you  will  dig  a  grave,  both  wide 
and  deep,  that  I  may  lie  by  my  warrior's  side  in 
death." 

"Here  is  my  hand,  chieftain,  that  your  faithful 
horse  shall  be  buried  in  the  depths  of  this  alkali 
dust  so  deep  that  birds  of  prey  cannot  feast  on  his 
flesh  nor  his  bones  lie  bleaching  in  the  sun."  Ad- 
dressing the  remainder  of  the  gang,  which  had 
drawn  near,  "Shall  it  not  be  so,  my  cronies?" 

"Yi,  yi,"  was  mournfully  sounded,  and  Rudolph, 
wearily  looking  at  them,  responded : 

"Thank  you,  my  comrades,  for  so  heartily  joining 
with  my  good  Hidalgo  here  in  this  errand  of  mercy. 
My  broken  arm  does  not  necessarily  mean  death, 
but  this  liberal  flow  of  blood  possibly  comes  from 
the  tapping  of  an  artery. 

"My  strength  does  not  seem  lasting,  and  ere  it 
gives  way  I  desire  to  express  my  gratitude  for  your 
indulgence  with  true  fidelity  of  my  every  wish ;  also 
your  trustworthy  devotion,  which  I  feel  that  I  have 
won  not  through  coercion  but  confidence  and  affec- 
122 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

tionate  regard.  And  it  is  my  sincere  belief,  although 
you  are  dubbed  outlaws,  that  you  have  not  more  to 
repent  than  do  those  who  secretly  undermine  the 
good  name  and  character  of  their  intimate,  law- 
abiding  and  sincerely  God-worshiping  friends  and 
unmercifully  take  advantage  of  destitute  knowledge, 
docility  and  innocence  to  confidingly  acquire  their 
possessions,  then  absorb  with  abandonment  all  to 
their  own  interest. 

"I  have  proven  you  to  be  merciful,  tender  and 
humane,  for  which  I  say  'Bravo,  my  comrades/ 
which  is  the  approving  counsel  of  your  chief,  who 
also  admonishes  you  to  bend  you  knee  and  bow 
your  head  in  honest  supplication  and  unfeigned 
reverence  to  God — the  same  God  which  Miss  Hope 
worshiped.  Then  you  will  ever  abhor  the  appro- 
priating of  others'  belongings  and  the  steel  which 
spills  the  blood,  even  in  self-defense  or  of  one  of 
your  kind. 

"And  proudly  does  your  chieftain  with  almost 
his  last  breath  again  thank  you  for  the  magnanimity 
of  your  promise  to  bury  this  noble  animal,  who 
could  not  talk  but  had  the  instinct  of  soulful  man. 
His  spirit  has  departed  and  my  soul  is  going  with 
him  and  I  bid  you  all " 

"Here,  you  -  -  vagabond  pirate!  Come  here, 
quick,  before  your  chieftain  dies,  while  you  are 
blubbering  around  as  useless  as  a  snail,"  hoarsely 
yelled  Shorty.  "I  have  strained  my  throat  to  its 
utmost  and  inhaled  enough  of  this  infernal  deadly 
123 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

atmospheric  gas  to  inflate  a  balloon,  that  I  might 
emit  sound  enough  to  reach  those  dumbfounded 
and  blasted  black  ears  of  yours." 

Still  Hidalgo  heeded  not,  so  wrapped  was  he 
in  trying  to  restore  his  master  by  giving  him  water 
from  the  canteen. 

Again  roared  Shorty,  "If  you  do  not  want  your 
chieftain  to  die,  hasten  here.  He  must  not  die! 
He  shall  not  die !  That  lead  was  not  meant  for  him 
or  his  horse,  but  for  you,  son  of  a  gun  and  con- 
temptuous vagrant  of  vagabondary." 

The  draught  of  water  somewhat  restored  the 
chief's  waning  strength,  and  Hidalgo,  after  again 
tightening  the  sinew  above  the  bleeding  vein,  turned 
his  attention  to  Shorty. 

"What  now  ?  Out  with  it  mighty  swift,  Porpoise, 
and  stop  that  screeching  rumpus  or  my  chief  will 
imagine  he  is  entering  Hades." 

"Imp  of  those  regions,  had  it  not  been  for  your 
chieftain  you  would  have  sent  me  to  the  crossing  of 
the  Phleg-e-thon  river,  which  they  say  leads  into 
the  burning  pit  of  Hades  and  runs  fire  instead  of 
water,  where  I  would  send  you  in  a  jiffy  if  my 
hands  were  not  pinioned,  but  by  the  eternal  jiminies 
I  do  not  want  him  to  tackle  it.  Unbind  my  hands !" 

"Not  yet,  porpoise  Shorty.  It  is  time  that  you 
had  learned  who  is  who.  My  chieftain's  last  mo- 
ments shall  not  be  disturbed  by  such  heathenish 
calliope  clamor,  if  I  have  to  stuff  your  guzzle  with 
124 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

this  valley  sif tings  of  Death/'  raged  Hidalgo,  as  he 
turned  to  go. 

"Stop,  imp  of  Satan.  Your  chief  must  not  die. 
I  heard  your  order  for  a  surgeon.  You  knew  that 
he  could  not  arrive  in  time  to  prevent  your  chief 
from  entering  your  own  infernal  regions.  Has  your 
jockey  gone?" 

"No,  he  is  mounting.  The  horses  were  tethered 
far  distant,  that  they  might  not  discover  us  to  your 
caravan  by  their  neighing." 

"Deuce  to  your  twaddle,"  interrupted  Shorty. 
"There  is  no  time  to  lose.  Countermand  your  order, 
you  brute,  and  I  will  order  my  doctor  immediately. 
I  crossed  these  diabolical  regions  once  without  one, 
and  my  lucky  star  was  in  the  ascendant  or  my  check 
would  have  been  issued  free  gratis  down  the  Phleg- 
e-thon  without  my  consent,  passing  on  to  the  in- 
fernal regions,  which  must  be  in  close  proximity  to 
this  diabolical,  scorching  Death  Valley.  Twice  the 
mercy  of  your  chief  has  saved  my  life  at  the  mo- 
ment you  would  have  robbed  me  of  it,  and  I  swear 
the  earth  shall  be  made  to  whizz  on  its  axis  a  thou- 
sand deals  faster  than  it  does  now  to  keep  life  in  his 
body  to  dutifully  maintain  his  heart  beatings,  and 
the  sooner  you  expedite  matters  the  better." 

"Well,  here  I  am,  Shorty  Porpoise.  There  might 
be  some  good  in  you  after  all,  although  you  look 
fishy  and  might  yet  prove  to  be  a  scaly  traitor,  in 
which  case  I  warn  you  that  you  would  land  in  that 
scalding  river  with  a  mighty  sharp  and  speedy  turn, 
125 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

without  even  waiting  to  find  the  regular  crossing. 
But  where  is  the  doctor,  that  I  may  hasten  his  pres- 
ence here?" 

" Unmistakably  you  are  an  imp  of  the  utter  dark- 
ness. Unloosen  my  hands,  that  I  can  use  my  cipher 
to  bring  him  here." 

"Not  by  the  eternal  vengeance  will  I  let  you 
practice  that  fraud,  Shorty  Porpoise." 

"Then,  imp,  take  that  red  book  from  my  pocket, 
or  rather  I  will  dictate  while  you  write,  or  can  you 
write?" 

"Yes,  old  Porpoise.  My  father  sent  me  to  school 
when  he  first  landed  in  America  and  kept  me  there." 

"Pity  he  had  not  sent  you  back  to  your  black 
infernal  regions  and  kept  you  there,  imp  of  Hades." 

"Halt  your  palaver,  Mr.  Shorty  Porpoise,  or  my 
blessed  chief  will  be  fainting  again,"  argued 
Hidalgo. 

"Well,  then,  imp,  write  the  words  I  give  from 
memory.  George,  James,  Tom,  Jack,  Ben " 

Hidalgo  wrote  no  more,  but  raged.  "By  the 
Jerico-whill-i-mi-cuss,  do  you  know  who  is  who 
and  what  is  what,  Mr.  Shorty  Porpoise?  You  for- 
get, or  did  you  know  that  I  am  Hidalgo,  the  lawless 
terror  of  terrors,  and  not  a  baboon?  That  cipher 
might  call  all  your  vagabond  men  here  to  cut  our 
throats. 

"Only  for  my  dying  chieftain  there  I  would  try 
the  edges  of  my  dagger  on  you  this  very  minute  and 
spoil  your  puffy  figure.     Come,  sir;  Mr.  Porpoise, 
'       126 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

out  with  your  order  in  plain  American  English,  or 
there  will  be  other  bones  to  repair  besides  my 
master's." 

"Well,  imp  of  Hades,  write  then: 

"Grimes,  accompany  Doc.  and  follow  bearer  of 
this  note  in  haste  to  set  the  bones  of  a  broken  arm 
of  the  preserver  of  my  life  and  stanch  the  great 
flow  of  blood.  Sylvester  Arnold.  Oro." 

"Mr.  Porpoise,  why  do  you  place  Oro  after  your 
name?  I  want  none  of  your  sly  tricks." 

"Only  cowards  are  tricky,"  retorted  Shorty,  "the 
nature  of  which  imps  ought  to  be  posted.  To  guard 
against  them  I  attach  'Oro' — meaning  gold  and  our 
password — otherwise  my  men  would  believe  it  a 
counterfeit  or  a  decoy  for  their  carcasses." 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

After  their  attack  by  the  highwaymen  the  caravan 
moved  forward  a  couple  of  miles,  and  as  their  cap- 
tain— Sylvester  Arnold — still  remained  behind, 
halted  to  await  his  coming. 

"Doc./1  said  Grimes,  as  he  stroked  his  bay  mare 
Bessie  before  putting  on  the  saddle,  "I  think  it  high 
time  for  Cap.  to  heave  in  sight.  It  is  a  chance  if  he 
has  not  been  waylaid  by  some  of  those  buzzy  bee 
looters  that  swarm  in  this  Death  Valley  as  a  resort 
from  the  mounted  police.  What  do  you  say?  I'll 
bet  my  old  bay  Bessie  on  it." 

127 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"You  can  keep  your  courting,  Bessie  Grimes. 
Certainly  there  is  something  wrong." 

"Jinks  Jo!  you  bet  I'll  keep  her,  and  she  knows 
when  I  comb  her  mane,  brush  out  the  dandruff  and 
polish  her  down  that  I  want  to  put  her  at  her  best. 
When  I  went  to  see  Rosa  Bell  I  always  took  her, 
because  she  could  take  an  onward  move  far  ahead 
of  the  other  chaps.  But  a  city  chap  appeared  with 
his  automobile  and  took  Rosa  Bell  in,  and  gayly 
passed  me  like  a  streak  of  greased  lightning  on  their 
way  to  the  church  to  get  spliced.  Doc.,  by  hooky, 
some  one  is  coming  this  way,  riding  like  the  wind, 
which  old  Bessie  is  champing  to  do,  for  she  knowns 
when  a  storm  is  brewing.  Our  captain  must  be  in 
some  born-busted  tangle.  What,  a  message  from 
captain?"  said  Grimes,  and  read  the  note  the  trusty 
gave  him,  then  handed  it,  saying: 

"Here,  Doc.,  scan  it  over  while  I  saddle  the  mule. 
Then  you  vault  courting  Bessie  and  give  her  full 
rein,  then  I  will  keep  Sambo  in  her  tracks."  And 
together  with  the  messenger  they  rode  swiftly  to 
the  scene  of  the  late  skirmish,  where  the  captain, 
still  bound,  anxiously  awaited  their  appearance. 

Doc.  leaped  from  the  saddle  and  drew  his  knife 
to  sever  the  cords,  saying: 

"Why,  Captain  Arnold,  how  came  you  here?" 

"I  can't  tell  you  now,  Doc.  No,  no,  let  the  cords 
alone.  Do  you  see  that  man  lying  besides  his  dead 
horse?" 

128 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Yes,  yes,  but  captain,  are  you  hurt  ?  Let  me  cut 
those  bandages,  which  are  cutting  into  your  flesh." 

"By  the  eternal  jiminies,  no.  There  is  no  time  to 
lose.  Unearth  all  the  medical  knowledge  you  ever 
knew  and  save — or  rather  put  life  into — that  man. 
Only  for  his  timely  aid  my  own  soul  would  now  be 
wrestling  with  the  damned.  And  all  the  vast 
quantities  of  gold  in  our  mysterious  mine  could  not 
give  tranquility  to  my  mind  if  that  rare  yeoman 
should  succumb  from  my  missent  bullet  and  find 
his  sepulchre  in  this  God- forsaken  Death  Valley. 
Doc.,  use  your  best  skill,  preserve  his  life,  which  is 
almost  extinct,  even  though  he  be  a  bandit  chieftain, 
and  your  fortune  is  made.  Rush,  Doc.,  rush  to 
him!" 

Doc.  found  Hidalgo  kneeling  beside  the  chieftain, 
bathing  his  brow  and  dropping  water  between  the 
pallid  lips,  murmuring:  "My  chief,  my  chief,  oh, 
my  chief,  wake  up.  You  must  have  fallen  asleep 
from  weakness.  Surely  you  are  not  dead.  Hidalgo 
wants  to  confess  that  he  is  to  blame.  Had^he  have 
hearkened  to  you  those  death-dealing  missies  would 
not  have  let  out  this  life-blood,  which  is  the  cir- 
culating fluid  that  keeps  your  heart  in  motion.  I 
wonder  if  it  is  beating?  You  look  as  inanimate  as 
does  your  lifeless  horse. 

"Ah,  there  is  a  faint  throbbing,  but  unless  Shorty 
Porpoise's  doctor  comes  very  soon  it  will  have 
ceased  entirely." 

"Here  I  am,  sir,  at  your  service." 
129 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"I  am  grateful,  doctor.  My  chief  is  in  your 
hands,"  graciously  said  Hidalgo. 

Doc.  proceeded  to  administer  restoratives  to  pro- 
duce animation  and  placed  the  broken  limb  in  a 
plaster  cast,  where  he  bound  it  firmly  to  a  strong 
support. 

Faithfully  and  without  flagging  he  worked  with 
the  unconscious  man,  and  his  efficiency  soon  was 
rewarded  by  feeble  signs  of  returning  vitality. 
Then,  turning  to  Hidalgo,  said: 

"It  would  be  well  to  improvise  a  stretcher,  for  it 
is  my  judgment  that  your  chieftain  should  be  re- 
moved to  permanent  quarters  with  all  possible 
haste." 

"Well,  doctor,"  said  Hidalgo,  "I  foresaw  the 
necessity  of  your  order,  therefore  with  the  assist- 
ance of  our  band  have  rudely  constructed  a  frame 
of  two  long, -strong  pole  handles  that  have  sharp, 
hooked  knives  at  the  end  that  we  use  to  pluck  the 
prickly  pear  fruit  from  the  top  of  the  immense  cacti 
which  grows  and  abounds  spontaneously,  then,  too, 
in  case  of  extreme  thirst  to  sever  or  slit  the  trunks 
to  obtain  water,  and  fastened  to  them  a  blanket, 
using  deer  sinews  for  thread." 

When  Hidalgo  saw  his  beloved  chieftain  quietly 
and  comfortably  resting  on  the  stretcher,  he  felt  an 
exultant  joy  and  assumed  his  customary  bullying 
disposition. 

"Well,  Shorty  Porpoise,  my  chief  is  calmly  re- 
posing, and  T  presume  to  assume  your  importance 
130 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

in  the  affair,  thus  proving  your  life  valueless,  you 
want  your  thongs  cut,  but  I  can  see  by  the  gleam 
of  your  eyes  that  you  would  like  to  make  my  heels 
fly  from  under  me  at  the  click  of  that  little  popgun 
of  yours,  so  I  can't  unwind  your  hands  for  a  while 
nor  let  your  doctor  depart  until  all  danger  for  my 
chief  is  past.  Therefore,  you  can  at  once  order 
your  caravan  and  equipments  and  accompany  us  to 
our  retreat.  I  will  not  exact  a  red  cent  or  a  glit- 
tering dollar  which  I  had  expected  to  have  added  to 
our  exchequer — plucked  from  the  dividends  of  those 
marvelously  rich  gold  mines  of  yours — as  an  equiva- 
lent for  your  carcass  while  yet  propelled  by  the 
power  of  breath." 

Hidalgo,  not  being  able  to  restrain  his  vengeful 
feelings  at  the  loss  of  the  ransom  for  which  he  had 
been  planning  for  months,  vindictively  called : 
"Here,  boys,  boost  him  over;  boost  him  over,  over 
again.  Give  Shorty  Porpoise  a  few  turns,  so  that 
he  will  the  more  fully  understand  the  methods  of 
this  Valley  of  Death." 

Shorty  Porpoise — as  Hidalgo  had  dubbed  him  on 
account  of  his  short  and  thick  dimensions,  and  the 
band  declaring  it  not  a  misnomer — had  suddenly 
sprung  into  notoriety  from  ocean  to  ocean  by  his 
extravagant  disbursement  of  money. 

United  to  high  living,  flashy  dressing  and  expen- 
sive turnouts,  he  had  chartered  a  train  to  cross  the 
continent  on  lightning  speed  record. 

131 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

And  when  he  had  drawn  his  checks  to  a  limit  by 
his  prodigality,  he  chose  a  picked  company  and  re- 
paired to  the  Death  Valley  vicinity,  where  the  public 
was  given  to  understand  he  owned  fabulously  rich 
mines  of  gold  with  which  to  replenish  his  safes. 

Reading  the  publication  of  these  profuse  boasts 
fired  the  brain  of  Hidalgo,  consequently,  unknown 
to  his  chieftain,  had  for  months  put  his  emissaries 
on  the  outlook  to  report  the  vain  Croesus'  entrance 
into  Death  Valley. 

No  one  knew  better  than  Sylvester  Arnold  (or 
Shorty  Porpoise)  the  dangers  attending  this  trip, 
which  he  really  took  as  a  subterfuge.  He  knew  the 
windings  in  and  out  without  having  to  penetrate  the 
interior.  Very  few  persons  make  the  attempt,  for 
there  is  no  exhilarating  atmosphere  and  no  living 
thing  can  exist  except  reptiles  like  the  horned  toad 
and  deadly  rattlesnake.  Nevertheless,  his  equip- 
ments were  made  as  though  for  a  through  passage 
of  that  Valley  of  Death,  which  is  far  below  the  level 
of  the  sea,  with  no  vegetation  excepting  the  cacti, 
and  that  only  on  the  outskirts,  as  though  protecting 
man  and  beasts  from  entering  the  deadly  precincts 
of  the  interior,  which  is  void  of  all  growth. 

Much  of  the  cacti  contains  water  which,  like  the 
maple,  requires  niches  cut  to  drain  it,  but  the  hand- 
ling of  the  cacti  is  very  difficult,  as  there  are 
thousands  of  long,  needle-like  stickers  that  jab  the 
hands  and  millions  of  tiny  prickers  every  quarter 
inch  of  the  shrub,  which  at  the  slightest  touch  pierce 
132 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

the  flesh  and,  being  almost  imperceptible  to  the  eye, 
there  is  no  limit  to  judge  the  extreme  anguish  felt. 

Unfortunately  many  travelers,  not  knowing  of 
the  edible  fruit  and  of  the  thirst-quenching  fluid, 
often  traverse  .weary  miles  until,  worn  from  fatigue 
and  famished,  succumb  at  last  to  the  inevitable  while 
yet  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  whose  ambition  had 
decoyed  them  there  in  the  researches  of  science  or 
mineral  wealth,  and  their  bones  remain  in  a  state  of 
non-decay  for  years  on  the  alkali  sands. 

In  order  to  vouchsafe  his  craftiness  and  give 
credulity  to  his  asserted  gold  deposit,  it  was  neces- 
sary to  cross  a  certain  portion  of  this  hazardous 
valley  route.  Therefore,  they  were  just  entering  the 
borders  when  the  caravan  was  intercepted  by  the 
brigands  which  had  been  ambushed,  who,  having 
used  their  cacti  sabers  to  clear  a  passage,  duly  sur- 
prised them. 

Naturally  the  small  party  with  mining  intent, 
concluding  that  these  desert  rovers  and  freebooters 
meant  plunder,  with  no  objection  to  commit  murder, 
summoned  all  their  resistance  at  command,  which 
consisted  more  in  the  abundance  of  up-to-date 
weapons  and  ammunition  than  in  numbers  to  use 
them. 

Shorty,  not  caring  to  divulge  the  mystery  of  his 
replenishments,  chose  only  a  trusted  few  to  accom- 
pany him.  Grimes,  unsophisticated  and  unsuspect- 
ing, therefore  a  true  and  easy  tool;  Doc.,  the  sur- 
geon, and  Jo,  cook  and  roustabout,  completed  the 
133 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

number,  and  their  appearance  was  as  questionable 
as  was  the  whereabouts  they  procured  their  vast 
amount  of  gold. 

With  determined  efforts  they  rushed  pell-mell  into 
the  melee  without  thought  or  restraint.  And  Shorty 
assailed  the  tall,  muscular  Greek,  Hidalgo,  with  the 
same  audacious  courage  and  unhesitating  conse- 
quences that  had  always  marked  his  career.  And 
Hidalgo,  quick  as  a  cat  makes  a  victim  of  a  mouse, 
caught  the  hand  which  held  the  revolver  that  was 
to  send  a  bullet  to  follow  the  aim  of  the  eye  which 
rested  without  variance  in  the  center  of  his  own, 
and  like  a  flash  encircled  him  with  a  bear-like  hug 
and  bore  him  to  the  earth. 

Then  he  drew  from  the  scabbard  his  stiletto,  and 
as  he  raised  it  aloft  gave  the  bonanza  king  his  new 
cognomen : 

"Ah,  ha !  Mr.  Shorty  Porpoise,  your  block  popper 
missed  its  mark  for  once,  but  this  blade  is  a  surer 
warning,  so  if  you  ever  learned  any  prayers  dig 
into  them  right  now,  for  you  have  no  moments  to 
lose,"  and  with  tigerish  venom  he  whirled  the  in- 
strument tauntingly  in  the  air,  and  had  not  his 
chieftain  arrived  at  this  opportune  occasion  and 
commandingly  calling  his  demand,  "Unhand  thy 
victim,  Hidalgo!"  the  loss  of  another  soul  would 
have  been  recorded  on  his  already  overburdened 
conscience. 


134 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 
CHAPTER  XX. 

"Good  morning,  darling  aunt.  Did  you  rest  well 
last  night?" 

"Not  quite  as  usual,  Jeallo,  as  I  did  not  have  my 
accustomed  outing  yesterday.  My  cough  being 
convulsive  and  the  weather  unfavorable,  the  doctor 
recommended  my  remaining  indoors.  As  a  conse- 
quence, sleep  with  its  restful  presence  did  not  visit 
my  sanctuary  until  a  very  late  hour  and  then  in 
fitful  moods/' 

"Don't  you  think  it  was  vile  of  the  doctor?  No 
one  can  sleep  without  having  had  plenty  of  fresh 
air.  Where  was  your  maid,  Truth,  that  she  did  not 
take  you  any  how  ?  But  there !  how  could  we  ex- 
pect it,  when  she  is  only  too  anxious  for  you  to 
die?  Why,  it  is  very  plain  that  she  is  angling  to 
get  your  money.  She  never  leaves  your  side  a 
moment  when  I  am  around,  as  though  you  would 
give  it  to  me.  But  where  is  she  now  ?  Unless  I  am 
here  she  neglects  you,  and  I  am  really  out  of 
patience,"  snarled  Jeallo. 

"Truth  is  taking  her  breakfast,  Jeallo.  She  did 
not  seek  her  couch  last  night,  but  kept  vigil  by  me. 
I  insisted  that  she  take  a  light  repast  before  retiring 
for  her  much-needed  rest.  Are  you  not  up  unusually 
early  this  morning,  Jeallo?'' 

"Yes,  aunt,  I  am  going  motoring  with  Mr.  Pea- 
body.     I  should  collapse  if  I  did  not  take  the  re- 
freshing  morning   air.      And   that    hateful    Truth 
135 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

ought  to  take  you  out,  too,  but  she  is  figuring  on 
motoring  you  to  the  graveyard,  the  mean  thing." 

Not  noticing  the  ill-tempered  remark,  her  aunt 
asked:  "Have  you  known  Mr.  Peabody  long, 
Jeallo?"  Then  an  attack  of  convulsive  coughing 
seized  her,  but  Jeallo,  not  waiting  its  cessation, 
hastened  to  answer: 

"Why,  yes,  aunt.  Just  after  I  came  here  a  friend 
introduced  us  on  the  street,  and  he  is  perfectly 
splendid.  Why,  aunt,  Mr.  Peabody  is  a-w-f-u-1 
rich,  having  recently  arrived  from  Alaska,  where  he 
has  a-w-f-u-1  rich  gold  mines.  And,  aunt,  he  says 
that  every  particle  of  gold  taken  from  his  mines  is 
perfectly  pure.  Just  think  of  it,  aunt,  as  being  pure 
and  unadulterated,  and  he  is  daily  expecting  his 
ship  to  arrive  loaded  with  it.  Aunt,  I  will  confide 
to  you  a  little  secret.  He  is  dead  in  love  with  me/' 

The  old  lady,  quite  exhausted,  feebly  said:  "I 
dare  say  he  is,  Jeallo." 

"Why,  yes,  aunt,  he  says  he  can't  help  it,  because 
I  am  so  sweet.  And  oh,  I  must  tell  you  that  he  has 
such  great  big  diamonds,  too,"  rattled  on  Jeallo, 
"and  when  we  return  from  our  auto  trip  I  am  to 
have  a  big  glittering  one  on  my  engagement  finger." 

"Are  you  going  far?"  ventured  the  old  lady, 
thinking  it  necessary  to  say  something. 

"Only  to  the  races,  aunt,  then  take  a  short  turn 

to  see  if  we  can  sight  his  ship  coming  in.     You 

must  not  worry,  aunt.    I  will  tell  Truth  to  look  well 

after  your  comforts  while  I  am  gone.     Mr.  Pea- 

136 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

body  promised  not  to  keep  me  away  too  long,  as  I 
told  him  that  I  was  your  sole  relative  and  protector 
since  your  severe  illness  now  that  your  children 
could  not  be  with  you.  So  you  may  be  sure  we  will 
be  back  by  6  p.  M.  dinner,  which  he  will  enjoy  so 
much,  especially  if  he  and  I  can  have  it  tete-a-tete. 

"I  know,  aunt,  you  would  not  want  to  have  one 
of  your  disgusting  coughing  spells  before  him,  even 
though  you  were  able  to  sit  at  the  table,  and  I 
should  think  that  Truth,  being  a  servant  here,  ought 
to  know  that  her  presence  would  be  an  intrusion 
and  detrop. 

"Why,  aunt,  she  ought  to  be  ashamed  to  come, 
since  she  is  mixed  up  in  that  disgraceful  killing 
affair  and  her  sister  in  jail  waiting  to  be  tried  for 
murdering  that  nice  Bishop.  It  is  perfectly  igno- 
minious, and  Truth  does  not  appear  one  bit  abashed. 
Dear  me,  I  should  not  be  able  to  hold  up  my  head, 
let  alone  looking  any  one  straight  in  the  eyes  as  she 
does. 

"That  good  Bishop  was  too  lovely  for  anything. 
Why,  aunt,  he  asked  me  to  refrain  from  sinful 
pleasures,  to  obey  God  by  keeping  His  holy  com- 
mandments, and  join  the  next  confirmation  class 
that  I  might  receive  religious  instructions  and  unite 
with  the  church. 

"I  thought  that  would  be  grand,  so  I  went  that 

very  day  to  select  a  confirmation  gown,  for  I  would 

want  the  handsomest  in  the  class.     I  found  one,  a 

beautiful  creation  that  could  not  have  suited  me 

137 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

better.  The  French  model  lady  said  if  the  fit  was 
not  perfect  she  could  have  it  changed  to  my  liking, 
and  I  told  her  that  we  would  arrange  the  matter 
later  on. 

"My !  I  wish  you  could  have  seen  it,  aunt.  Being 
of  the  daintiest  white  silk  voil  and  all  fluffy  with 
trimmings  of  beautiful  lace,  it  was  most  exquisite. 
I  met  the  Bishop  on  the  street  and  told  him  that  I 
would  be  at  the  class  room  at  their  next  meeting. 

"I  was  afraid  another  purchaser  might  be  ahead 
of  me,  so  I  hurried  home,  not  even  stopping  to  look 
at  the  new-shaped  hats  just  from  Paris  displayed  in 
the  shop  windows.  I  wanted  to  get  that  two  hun- 
dred dollars  which  I  saw  Truth  put  away  in  the 
china  closet.  I  knew  that  you  would  say,  'Yes, 
Jeallo,  certainly  you  can  have  it.'  Therefore,  Miss 
Truth  had  no  say  in  the  affair,  for  it  was  not  hers. 
I  determined  that  I  would  not  disturb  you,  as  I  had 
peeped  in  your  bedroom  and  saw  you  sleeping  so 
sweetly. 

"But,  aunt,  I  found  Truth  in  the  dining-room— 
the  vixen,  she  is  always  where  she  is  not  wanted — 
and  I  made  bold  to  ask  her  for  it,  as  it  was  near 
time  for  closing  the  store.  I  took  great  pains  to 
piously  tell  her  that  I  was  going  to  join  the  Bishop's 
church  and  desired  the  money  to  purchase  a  con- 
firmation gown. 

"The  termagant !    What  do  you  believe,  aunt,  she 
answered?    Well,  I  will  tell  you. 
138 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

'  'Indeed,  Jeallo,  you  cannot  have  that  two  hun- 
dred dollars.  Being  uncle's  sacred  coin,  it  must  be 
used  especially  for  my  dear  old  lady's  needs/ 
'D-e-a-r  old  lady.'  She  did  not  mean  it.  It  looks 
as  though  you  were  very  d-e-a-r  and  she  much  in 
love  with  you  when  she  goes  off  to  bed  leaving  you 
here  alone,  when  you  might  be  seized  with  that 
terrible  coughing  as  you  had  just  now  and  result  in 
your  death.  Was  it  not  lucky  I  came  in  when  I 
did? 

"As  I  was  saying,  I  would  not  be  confirmed  with- 
out that  dress  and  could  not  get  it  without  the 
money.  I  knew  it  was  mine  by  right,  don't  you  see, 
aunt,  as  I  am  to  be  heiress  to  a  goodly  share  of 
your  fortune  some  day  anyhow? 

''And  that  stingy  old  maid  Truth  need  not  have 
been  so  discourteous,  for  it  was  none  of  her  affairs 
and  I  was  determined  that  she  should  not  interfere 
with  my  being  confirmed,  so  I  watched  my  oppor- 
tunity and  procured  the  ten  twenties  and  rapidly 
made  my  way  to  the  store.  But  I  arrived  a  moment 
too  late,  for  the  clerk  had  just  closed  for  the  night. 
And  aunt,  was  it  not  a  shame?  No  amount  of  per- 
suasion of  mine  could  induce  him  to  open  it,  but 
told  me  to  be  on  hand  early  the  next  morning. 

"Then,  aunt,  was  it  not  too  bad?  That  nice  old 
Bishop  was  murdered  the  very  same  night. 

'If  you  will  take  my  advice,  aunt,  it  would  be  well 
to  keep  an  eye  on  Truth,  too.  She  is  very  sly  and 
no  more  to  be  depended  on  than  was  her  sister 
139 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Hope,  who  killed  the  nice  old  Bishop  that  so 
graciously  asked  me  to  be  confirmed.  It  made  me 
really  ill  when  the  next  morning  Mr.  Peabody 
phoned  the  news.  The  first  thought  that  struck  me 
was  'I  cannot  buy  that  handsome  gown  now,  as 
there  will  be  no  confirmation.'  Then  it  occurred 
that  I  ought  to  return  the  money  so  as  to  save  the 
occasion  of  Truth  being  clamorous.  But  in  this 
state  of  perplexity  Mr.  Peabody  again  called  me  to 
the  phone  and  appeared  to  be  much  excited  and 
said  the  city  as  a  whole  was  in  a  violent  rage  against 
Miss  Hope  and  that  it  would  be  a  miracle  should 
they  find  her  if  she  was  not  lynched." 

"Surely,  Jeallo,  their  conscience  could  not  have  let 
them  commit  such  a  terrible  act.  But  you  did  right 
in  putting  the  money  back  in  the  china  closet,"  said 
the  old  lady,  striving  to  control  her  exhausting 
cough. 

"And  he  urged  me  to  go  motoring  to  subdue  my 
disappointment  about  the  dress.  And,  aunt,  his 
commiseration  was  so  great  that  he  took  me  to 
every  conceivable  resort  that  could  be  deemed  a 
refuge  or  hiding  place  for  the  girl  who  murdered 
the  nice  old  Bishop  that  was  going  to  confirm  me  in 
his  church.  And  now,  aunt,  don't  get  nervous  when 
I  tell  you  that  some  of  the  places  were  the  most  vile, 
outlandish  and  barbarous  looking  haunts  and  would 
strike  terror  to  the  strongest  of  nerves,  no  matter 
how  robust  the  individual. 

140 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Mr.  Peabody,  noticing  my  pallor,  asked,  'Are 
you  sick?'  Shivering  from  fright  I  answered,  'No, 
but  cold/  and  thought  we  had  better  return. 

"He  did  not  dream  that  my  chill  originated  from 
the  fear  of  footpads,  for  I  had  those  twenties  con- 
cealed about  my  person.  I  had  thought  to  display 
them  to  Mr.  Peabody,  who  being  short  of  funds 
until  his  ship  should  have  arrived  might  want  to 
borrow  them.  Then,  too,  that  dress  was  still  in  my 
mind,  for  there  were  other  churches  besides  the 
Bishop's. 

"My,  but  Mr.  Peabody  brought  me  home  at  a 
scorching  rate,  which  unstrung  my  nerves  still  more. 
I  remonstrated,  but  he  said:  'Why,  dearie,  it  will 
be  all  right  if  we  are  arrested  for  speeding,  as  those 
diamonds  will  foot  up  for  a  good  round  sum/ 
Entering  the  house,  I  put  my  arms  around  Truth's 
neck  and  explained  how  sorry  I  was  that  the  Bishop 
had  been  murdered,  but  she  made  no  answer,  not 
even  showing  a  sign  of  grief,  and  stood  quiet  and 
heartless  as  though  she  were  a  statue.  She  knows, 
of  course,  that  her  sister  Hope  is  guilty,  and  was 
afraid  that  we  would  find  her. 

"You  must  have  thought  strange  that  I  did  not 
come  in  to  see  you,  aunt,  but  Mr.  Peabody  took  me 
day  after  day  racing  here,  there  and  everywhere  to 
obtain  clue  of  that  girl  murderess;  therefore  I 
slipped  quietly  out  that  you  might  not  be  disturbed. 

"It  was  really  kind  of  Mr.  Peabody  to  take  so 
much  interest  in  the  affair.  He  said  'I  would  have 
141 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

looked  most  charming  in  that  lovely  dress,'  and  Miss 
Hope  should  be  made  to  endure  the  extreme  penalty 
of  the  law  as  a  consequence  for  his  disappointment 
in  not  seeing  me  robed  in  that  confirmation  attire  so 
suited  to  my  maidenly  reserve  and  simplicity.  Was 
it  not  sweet  of  him? 

"And  now,  aunt,  is  it  not  outrageous?  Truth's 
sister  Hope  has  returned  scandalously  and  brazenly 
by  herself.  Why,  she  was  as  gleeful  as  though 
coming  from  an  unusually  attractive  matinee 
comedy,  in  the  meantime  ostentatiously  exhibiting 
the  money  which  belonged  to  the  murdered  Bishop — 
calling  it  'uncle's  sacred  money'  to  make  people  be- 
lieve her  crazy." 

"Uncle's  sacred  money,  Jeallo?  Uncle's  sacred 
money,  did  you  say,  Jeallo?"  asked  the  old  lady  in  a 
faint,  agitated  voice. 

"Yes,  aunt,  and  the  papers  are  all  teeming  with 
the  news.  I  knew  that  you  were  too  ill  to  read  the 
account  and  that  Truth  would  not  fully  explain  the 
facts,  being  so  closely  allied,  therefore  I  thought  I 
would  run  in  just  a  moment  and  give  you  the  whole 
particulars. 

"I  knew  that  you  would  sympathize  with  me  for 
having  been  so  basely  treated  about  that  money  when 
I  wanted  it  for  such  a  holy  cause,  of  buying  my 
confirmation  dress. 

"Truth  did  not  miss  it,  though,  for  I  put  it  back 
in  the  china  closet,  thinking  she  might  plan  a  rupture 
142 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

between  Mr.  Peabody  and  me,  but  he  adores  and 
keeps  me  constantly  to  himself. 

%<He  says  the  people  are  anxious  for  the  trial  of 
Hope  and  is  sure  of  a  conviction,  therefore  I  thought 
best  that  you  should  understand  what  kind  of  a 
maid  you  are  harboring.  I  do  hope  they  will  hang 
her  sister  Hope  who  murdered  the  nice  Bishop,  and 
I  keep  repeating  it  over  and  over,  thinking  it  might 
have  some  judicial  effect. 

"I  ought  to  be  going,  aunt,  for  Mr.  Peabody 
invited  me  to  motor  with  him  to  sight  the  ships, 
which  surely  would  enter  the  habor  this  afternoon. 

"You  must  take  good  care  of  yourself.  I  knew 
it  would  do  you  a  world  of  good  to  see  me  and  I 
am  glad  I  came  and  would  stay  longer  but  Mr. 
Peabody  is  so  exacting.  I  wonder  why  that  lofty- 
minded  Truth  don't  come?  Her  satisfactory  esti- 
mation of  herself  is  so  abundant  that  she  believes 
you  can  make  as  good  progress  to  health  while  she 
is  indulging  in  the  luxury  of  slumber  as  when  she — 
your  maid — is  by  your  side.  And  it  is  very  likely 
the  truth,  for  certainly  you  are  much  weaker  than 
I  ever  saw  you  before.  I  must  impress  upon  her 
the  necessity  of  being  more  vigilant,  also  more 
faithful  in  administering  your  cough  elixir,  for  Mr. 
Peabody  is  very  anxious  to  see  you,  as  he  is  aware 
how  much  I  adore  you.  By-bye,  aunt." 

Going  into  the  hall  instead  of  proceeding  to  the 
main  stairway,  she  made  a  sharp  turn  through  a 
door  opening  into  a  long  balcony  at  the  end  of  which 
143 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

were  a  flight  of  stairs  that  descended  into  the  street. 
About  midway  of  the  balcony  she  met  one  of  the 
maids. 

"Juliette,"  said  Jeallo,  "where  is  Truth?  Is  she 
sleeping  still?" 

"Yes,  Miss  Jeallo.  She  lingered  over  her  coffee 
quite  a  length  of  time,  as  she  was  very  weary." 

"Gee !  when  she  is  so  negligent  she  cannot  expect 
to  be  a  beneficiary  to  aunt's  money  after  she  dies. 
I  say,  Juliette,  did  the  doctor  tell  Truth  yesterday 
that  aunt  had  the  consumption?" 

"Not  exactly,  Miss  Jeallo." 

"Well,  what  did  he  say,  Juliette?" 

"He  said  that  unless  the  cough  be  restricted  he 
could  not  vouch  that  consumption  would  not  be  a 
result,  Miss  Jeallo,"  sorrowfully  said  Juliette,  for 
she  was  much  attached  to  her  mistress. 

"Oh,  dear,  oh,  dear,  and  consumptive  patients 
sometimes  last  for  years,  and  I  am  dying  to  get 
away.  Only  for  Mr.  Peabody  I  am  sure  I  could 
not  stand  it.  Why,  Juliette,  the  length  of  time  I 
have  been  here  seems  incredibly  long,  and  when  I 
first  saw  aunt,  so  frail  and  delicate,  I  was  certain 
she  was  near  the  end.  But  now  I  suppose  she  will 
have  the  consumption,  and  if  that  odius  old  maid 
Truth  was  not  so  habitually  attentive  that  cough 
would  have  ceased  long  ago,  which  now  as  a  fact 
will  keep  aunt  lingering  until  doomsday. 

144 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Juliette,  I  do  hope  Mr.  Peabody  will  put  the 
diamond  engagement  ring  on  my  finger  to-day.  He 
is  a-w-f-u-1  rich.  Then  I  can  just  snap  my  fingers 
and  not  wait  for  aunt's  money." 

"Certainly  not,  Miss  Jeallo." 

"My,  wouldn't  I  be  happy  then?  Really,  Juliette, 
he  is  a-w-f-u-1  proud  that  I  am  so  very  devoted  to 
aunt,  and  believes  she  will  leave  me  a  great  share  of 
her  large  fortune." 

"Is  that  so,  Miss  Jeallo?" 

"Yes,  and,  Juliette,  while  taking  the  measure  of 
my  finger  he  mentioned  that  it  would  not  be  best  to 
marry  without  the  knowledge  of  my  aunt — which  I 
had  proposed  as  jolly  fun — as  being  inconsiderate  of 
her  feelings,  consequently  leave  me  out  of  her  will. 

"  'Assuredly/  I  said,  'Mr.  Peabody,  she  could  not ! 
Why.  I  am  her  niece  who  has  been  so  very  kind  to 
her.'  And,  Juliette,  she  would  not  dare  to,  for  I 
have  taken  great  pains  to  impress  her  that  I  am  to 
be  one  of  the  co-heirs  with  her  children.  And  as  for 
Truth,  the  Jade,  my  determination  is  that  not  a  cent 
outside  of  a  servant's  salary  shall  she  receive." 

"O,  Miss  Jeallo !" 

"Why,  of  course,  Juliette,  by  rights  it  is  mine, 
and  have  endeavored  to  prove  it  to  Mr.  Peabody. 
But  he  continually  urges  and  insists  that  aunt  should 
personally,  in  writing,  arrange  a  marriage  dot,  be- 
fore the  ceremony  is  performed" — adding  mischiev- 
ously, with  twinkling  eyes — "no  matter  whom  you 
marry,  which  he  need  not  have  indicated  as  being 
X45 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

a  joke,  for  his  love  for  me  is  very  potent,  and  would 
be  a  strenuous  risk  for  another  to  claim  it." 

"Surely,  Miss  Jeallo?" 

"Certainly,  Juliette.  And  he  convinced  me  that 
it  would  be  the  proper  thing,  don't  you  see,  to  have 
a  dot  settled  on  me,  then  I  could  be  independent. 
That  is  why  I  came  in  to  see  aunt  so  early  this 
morning',  and  was  happy  to  find  that  Truth  was 
not  with  her." 

"But  after  all,  we  did  not  have  the  matter  fixed, 
as  I  was  so  enthusiastic  in  illustrating  the  exqui- 
sitely beautiful  gown  for  my  confirmation,  which 
that  girl  Hope  was  mean  enough  to  upset  by  mur- 
dering that  nice  Bishop,  that  I  did  not  mention  my 
errand.  And  being  nearly  noon  I  was  afraid  Truth — 
who  is  my  abhorrence — would  pop  in  before  the  set- 
tlement could  be  adjusted  satisfactorily." 

"Then  you  are  going  to  marry  Mr.  Peabody,  Miss 
Jeallo?"  ' 

"You  ask  that  question,  Juliette  ?  Why,  he  would 
die  of  grief  if  I  was  to  refuse  him  so  there  is  no 
other  way  out  of  it.  I  will  tell  him  that  I  had  a 
long  interview  and  confidential  conversation  with 
aunt  and  he  will  take  it  for  granted  that  I  am  well 
provided  for.  Here  comes  Mr.  Peabody  in  the 
auto:  Good-bye,  Juliette." 

Had  not  Jeallo  been  so  intent  with  her  own  selfish 

and  deceitful  aims  she  would  have  discovered  that 

they   were   conversing  by   a   large   window   which 

opened  onto  the  balcony  from  the  bedroom  at  the 

146 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

head  of  the  old  lady's  sleeping  couch,  that  Truth 
had  raised  to  its  utmost  capacity  to  let  the  fresh  air 
circulate  freely  through  the  room,  as  the  high  and 
wide  old-fashioned  head-board  protected  her  patient 
from  the  direct  draught. 

And  that  dear  old  lady  whose  years  numbered 
three  score  and  ten,  and  always  had  affiliated  with 
onlv  the  strictly  honest  and  pure  in  heart,  as  she 
lay  there  in  her  helplessness  could  not  escape  hear- 
ing all  those  tortuous  words. 

Each  one  was  a  revelation,  which  penetrated  her 
brain  and  quickened  the  pulsations  of  her  heart 
until  she  felt  it  was  bursting  with  pain. 

Never  had  she  entertained  the  remotest  thought 
that  Jeallo  could  be  so  wicked. 

She  had  believed  her  giddy  and  thoughtless,  but 
attributed  it  to  her  youth,  which  in  more  mature 
years  would  pass  away. 

When  the  conversation  had  ceased,  she  mur- 
mured, "Jeallo,  Jeallo,  how  can  you  seemingly  be 
so  kind  and  loving,  while  yet  in  your  heart,  soul, 
and  brain,  you  are  entertaining  meditations  and  di- 
recting your  mind,  to  the  working  to  me  an  injury 
and  desiring  my  death?" 

In  grief,  the  tears  that  had  formed  gushed  from 
her  eyes,  and  in  trickling  streams  rolled  down  the 
deep  furrows  of  her  aged  cheeks,  where  she  ab- 
sorbed them  with  the  cob-web  of  a  handkerchief, 
which  she  had  specially  requested  Truth  to  hand 
her  on  that  morning — being  the  anniversary  of  her 
147 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

own  plighted  love.  The  lover  had  said,  "Take  this 
little  kerchief  as  a  souvenir  of  our  betrothal  kiss, 
to  bind  our  hearts  until  I  can  place  on  your  finger 
the  jeweled  circlet — meaning  that  our  love  will  be 
without  end." 

Faintly  between  her  sobs  she  lisped,  "Lover  of 
my  youth,  and  husband  of  my  maturity,  little  did 
we  dream  in  our  most  fanciful  imaginings  that  this 
little  token  of  remembrance  of  our  lifetime  vow, 
would  be  drenched  with  the  scalding  and  bitter  tears 
which  flow  from  the  fountain  of  my  crushed  spirit !" 

"Now  that  you  are  no  more  in  this  life,  my  old 
age  yearns  for  true  fidelity  and  trustful  sympathy." 
Her  strength  almost  failed,  yet  with  more  stress  she 
exclaimed  in  anguish : 

"O  jealousy,  with  all  thy  rancorous  sting, 
Thou  canst  with  honor  victory  bring!" 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

Truth,  after  having  breakfasted,  repaired  to  her 
own  apartment  for  a  thorough  rest,  knowing  her 
services  required  her  to  be  on  hand  in  the  dead  of 
the  night,  when  the  strenuous  efforts  of  throwing 
off  the  irritating  matter  from  the  lungs  was  at  its 
highest  degree,  also  the  doctor  had  cautioned  her 
to  be  on  the  alert  to  administer  antidotes. 

For  some  unaccountable  reason,  though,  she 
could  not  obtain  the  repose  she  sought.  Her  mind 
would  not  desist  from  the  freedom  of  disturbing 
148 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

thoughts.  There  was  a  continuous  reluctance  to 
sink  into  quietude,  for  the  racking  cough  seemed 
to  echo  in  her  ears,  and  her  eyelids  refused  to  close 
from  sight  the  helpless,  gray-haired  old  lady. 

Arising,  she  closed  the  blinds,  drew  the  curtains 
and  arranged  the  drapery  that  midnight  darkness 
might  prevail — thus  inducing  Morpheus  to  appear — 
but  he  shunned  her  very  presence,  but  not  without 
invading  her  mind  with  the  vainest  imaginings  why 
he  loitered.  Her  patience  forsook  her  and  she 
abandoned  the  enticing  hope  of  summoning  him. 

Dressing,  she  entered  the  sick  room,  and  was  not 
surprised  to  find  the  old  lady  in  a  very  languid  con- 
dition. "Ah,"  she  thought,  "mental  telegraphy  re- 
strained Morpheus  from  being  manifest.  But  why 
that  care-worn,  weary  look  and  reddened  eyes,  as 
though  inflamed  by  weeping?  Evidently  something 
unfortunate  had  occurred  to  produce  so  sudden  and 
unfavorable  a  change." 

Immediately  Truth  endeavored  to  relieve  the  old 
lady's  failing  strength  by  massage  treatment  and 
kind  words,  then  softly  hummed  a  lullaby,  and  felt 
compensated  when  she  saw  her  charge  lying  quietly, 
as  though  in  peaceful  slumber. 

Judge  of  her  consternation  when,  a  moment  later, 
the  old  lady,  with  unclosed  eyes,  addressed  her: 
"Truth,  I  desire  you  to  go  and  telegraph  to  my  son 
and  daughter  that  I  am  rapidly  failing  in  health,  of 
which  heretofore  I  deemed  it  best  not  to  inform 
them ;  but  I  long  to  see  them  before  I  die." 
149 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Before  returning,  Truth,  go  to  the  office  of 
Attorney  Goodman  and  say  that,  if  at  leisure,  I  re- 
quest him  to  come  to  see  me  on  important  business. 

"Afterwards,  you  must  really  go  to  visit  your 
sister  Hope,  who  is  in  such  dire  distress,  where  your 
sacred  duty  calls  you,  which,  forsooth,  in  your  devo- 
tional and  genuine  forbearance  you  have  granted 
to  me.  While  it  is  gratifying,  I  feel  that  I  have 
accrued  a  debt  that  cannot  be  cancelled." 

Kneeling,  Truth  said :  "No,  no,  dearest  one ;  it 
is  I  who  am  your  debtor,  for  bestowing  on  me  your 
filial  affection,  for  which  I  have  hungered  since  the 
death  of  my  own  dear  mother  in  my  early  youth, 
and  craved  to  fulfill  the  part  of  a  dutiful  daughter 
in  your  last  years  of  longevity." 

"But  1  should  not  consider  myself  so  if  I  left  you 
alone  in  your  present  weaken  condition."  And  she 
placed  a  kiss  of  affection  on  the  brow  which  she 
had  been  soothing  with  the  palm  of  her  hand. 

A  loving  smile  flitted  over  the  face  of  the  invalid 
as  she  softly  answered : 

"Truly,  you  have  been  a  blessing  to  me.  Even 
your  name — Truth — indicates  your  worth  and  reli- 
ance, and  I  assure  you  that  your  deep  affection  is 
reciprocated,  but,  dear  Truth,  something  urges  me 
that  it  is  best  to  attend  to  my  business  affairs,  so  I 
insist  that  you  go." 

Silently,  and  with  eyes  clouded  by  tears,  Truth 
poured  a  teaspoonful  of  nerve  tonic  in  a  small  glass 
of  water,  raised  the  old  lady,  and  affectionately 
150 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

placing  one  arm  around  her,  impressed  another  kiss 
on  her  cheek  as  she  drained  the  last  drop,  then,  with 
the  old  lady's  assent  for  the  maids  to  keep  vigil  with 
her,  she  withdrew. 

Truth  had  not  derived  the  least  intuitive  knowl- 
edge of  the  part  Jeallo's  scope  of  action  had  played 
to  make  such  a  rapid  change  in  the  vitality  of  the 
venerable  lady,  consequently  thought  Juliette's  an- 
swer rather  singular  when  she  asked: 

"Will  you,  Juliette,  carefully  take  charge  of  the 
sick  room  while  I  am  away?'' 

"Yes,  Miss  Truth;  but  I  hope  Miss  Jeallo  will 
not  come  in,"  said  Juliette.  "In  fact,  I  wish  she 
would  go  away  altogether."  She  spoke  with  such 
asperity  that  Truth  questioningly  asked : 

"Why  so,  Juliette?" 

"Because,  Miss  Truth,  Miss  Jeallo  frequently 
visits  my  lady's  room  the  hour  of  her  reposing, 
noting  the  time,  too,  that  you  have  retired  for  rest 
or  are  absent.  Cautiously  she  enters,  as  though  she 
would  not  disturb  her  aunt's  slumbering,  and  on 
tiptoe  wanders  around,  slyly  peeping  into  every- 
thing— even  the  dressing-case  drawers,  removing 
them  and  carefully  scrutinizing  every  detail  of 
architecture  as  though  hunting  for  a  secret  spring, 
receptacle,  or  false  panel,  also  the  escritoire,  and 
the  little  black  trunk  by  my  lady's  bedside  has  not 
escaped  her. 

"Sometimes.  Miss  Truth,  Miss  Jeallo  goes  out 
before  my  lady  awakens,  carelessly  remarking, 
151 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

'Aunt  being  very  systematic,  I  was  looking  for 
something  to  tidy/  But  if  she  does  arouse  or  awakes 
Miss  Jeallo  glides  to  her  side  and  salutes  her :  'Good 
morning,  dear  aunt,'  adjusts  the  covering,  smoothes 
the  pillow,  saying,  M  am  very  glad  to  find  you  so 
well.  I  came  in  for  a  little  chat,  for  I  know  you 
must  be  lonely/  And,  Miss  Truth,  it  always  ends 
in  an  agitating,  nerve-racking,  mischief-making  con- 
versation which  has  been  a  source  of  great  wonder- 
ment to  you  when  again  you  approached  her  bed- 
side." 

"Juliette,  I  am  sorry  that  I  had  not  known  of 
this  before/' 

"Really,  Miss  Truth,  I  believed  it  would  have  dis- 
turbed your  already  overtaxed  mind;  and  she  be- 
ing a  relative  of  my  lady  you  would  have  hesitated 
to  interfere." 

"Only  a  relative  through  marriage,  Juliette.  No 
kindred  blood  circulates  in  their  veins/' 

"At  any  rate,  Miss  Truth,  whatever  her  motive 
she  would  have  persisted  in  accomplishing  it  at  any 
cost.  What  possible  good  does  she  expect  to  gain 
by  her  observations  and  why  does  she  persist  in 
these  annoying  ways?" 

"That  is  a  mystery  to  me,  too,  Juliette.  The 
Great  Creative  One  has  produced  many  noxious  and 
seriously  troublesome  pests  with  an  object,  possibly 
of  trying  our  forbearance." 

"Jeallo's  temerity  is  incomprehensible  and  surely 
not  compatible  to  harmony.  Her  misconstruction, 
152 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

of  the  upright  actions  of  others  to  suit  the  fabrica- 
tions of  her  own  fallacies,  with  such  consummate 
skill  is  in  gross  defiance  to  the  universal  edict  of 
"Love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself." 

''Credulous  persons  cannot  conceive  the  enormity 
of  such  conduct,  therefore,  are  often  duped  by  the 
duplicity  and  protestations  of  affection,  as  that  which 
Jeallo  expresses  to  her  aunt." 

"But  eventually  the  guile  will  be  detected  by  some 
unforseen  event,  which  will  ever  dispel  a  trust  in 
the  truthfulness  of  the  pretended  warm-hearted  dec- 
larations— there,  Juliette,  'The  mouth  of  the  -foolish 
causes  destruction  as  well  as  being  near  it.'  " 

"I  am  much  exercised  as  to  the  effect  Jeallo's  pecu- 
liarities will  render  to  the  health  of  our  aged  lady. 
Lock  the  door,  Juliette,  that  she  may  not  visit  the 
sick  room  today,  as  I  could  not  vouch  for  the  re- 
sult." 

"It  is  safe  from  intrusion  today,  as  Miss  Jeallo 
has  gone  motoring  with  Mr.  Peabody,  Miss  Truth." 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

After  Truth  had  gone  Juliette,  accompanied  by 
Nanette,  repaired  to  the  old  lady's  room,  where  they 
found  her  in  tranquil  sleep.  With  thoughtful 
quietude  they  nimbly  withdrew  to  the  recess,  which 
was  a  sort  of  sanctuary  wherein  the  old  lady  had 
spent  many  happy  moments  in  self  communings, 
and  fitted  also  with  many  collections  of  art,  relics, 
153 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

souvenirs    and    choice    antiquities,    which    she   had 
gathered  since  early  childhood  in  her  travels. 

Quite  an  hour  had  elapsed  when  the  doorbell 
rang.  Juliette,  peering  through  the  mazy  meshes 
of  transparent  drapery,  saw  that  her  mistress  was 
awake,  and  said  to  Nanette:  "You  remain  here  and 
I  will  go  to  her." 

And  she  asked:  "My  lady,  did  the  sudden  ring- 
ing arouse  you?" 

"No,  Juliette.  Please  send  Nanette  and  if  it  is 
Attorney  Goodman  she  can  usher  him  to  my  room. 
Then  you  retire  to  a  convenient  distance  of  my  bell, 
as  I  may  require  the  presence  of  each." 

But  a  few  moments  elapsed  ere  Attorney  Good- 
man entered  the  room,  and  the  old  lady  beckoned 
him  to  be  seated  while  she  said:  "I  am  glad  you 
were  not  particularly  engaged  in  special  business  as 
I  felt  a  necessity  to  confer  with  you  as  to  my  prop- 
erty settlements,  which  my  age  and  state  of  health 
makes  known  to  me  should  not  be  deferred." 

Still  holding  her  hand,  which  he  had  taken,  he 
said:  "Madam,  I  am  sorry  to  find  you  not  im- 
proved in  health.  However,  it  is  a  wise  person 
who  provides  in  season  for  the  inevitable  while  yet 
the  mental  faculties  are  unclouded,  that  they  may 
deal  in  an  intellectual  and  honest  manner,  not  only 
in  the  sight  of  man,  but  also  in  the  Lord,  and  often- 
times it  saves  disadvantageous  issues." 

"Thank  you,"  softly  she  murmured.  "Please  be 
seated." 

154 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Attorney  Goodman,  I  thought  proper  to  make 
my  will  while  I  am  strong  enough  to  dictate  con- 
cisely. The  requisitions  are  in  that  escritoire  and  I 
am  in  sound  mind  and  devoid  of  undue  influence 
when  I  express  that  you  make  my  son,  daughter, 
and  Miss  Truth  Fairchild  equally  co-heirs  to  all 
my  property  and  possessions  with  no  other  legatees 
or  bequests. 

"Miss  Truth  has  been  a  faithful  and  devoted  at- 
tendant, even  to  the  detriment  of  her  strong  consti- 
tution. At  present  her  sister  Hope,  who  Truth 
asssures  me,  is  perfectly  innocent  of  the  terrible 
crime  ascribed  to  her,  requires  financial  aid  as 
well  as  sympathizing,  therefore,  I  place  a  required 
amount  on  deposit  which  will  eventually  be  taken 
from  Truth's  inheritance." 

"Madam,  I  am  chief  counsellor  for  Miss  Hope 
Fairchild,  and  as  the  evidence  now  stands  I  am  fear- 
ful that  it  is  overwhelmingly  against  her,  although 
in  my  own  mind  I  believe  her  guiltless.  How  else 
could  I,  when  I  look  into  those  innocent  and  soul- 
ful eyes?  Why,  I  could  as  easily  pronounce  the 
'Madonna'  a  criminal  as  Miss  Hope  Fairchild.  But 
that  would  have  no  weight  with  the  jury,  there- 
fore, I  must  prove  her  to  be  insance,  which  surely 
is  the  case." 

"Oh,  Attorney  Goodman,  and  that  would  be  to 
consign  her  to  a  living  death.  What  probable  evi- 
dence is  there  that  she  could  be  so  judged?" 

155 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Why,  by  her  odd  behavior.  She  speaks  of  the 
robber  chieftain,  but  when  questioned  will  give  no 
definite  or  comprehensive  explanation,  and  the  de- 
tailed directions  that  she  gave  were  very  non-com- 
mittal and  vague,  as  though  trying  to  shield  some 
one.  Had  not  the  detective  been  wary  he  never 
would  have  found  the  house  in  which  she  was  re- 
strained, and  from  which  she  returned  gaily,  hold- 
ing the  stolen  coin  in  her  hand.  And  when  arrested 
exhibited  it,  saying,  "See!  I  saved  it!  Here  it  is, 
'Uncle's  Sacred  Money.' 

As  he  made  the  last  assertion  at  the  conclusion  of 
his  narrative  the  old  lady  quickly  arose  to  a  sitting 
posture,  as  though  shocked  by  electricity,  which 
was  really  the  emotional  capacity  of  the  soul  rather 
than  strength,  and  firmly  said: 

"Oh,  no  sir;  not  insane.  She  speaks  the  truth, 
for  I,  too,  had  one  thousand  dollars  of  'Uncle's 
Sacred  Money,'  and  Miss  Faith  Fairchild  asked  as 
a  favor  that  it  be  invested  in  deserving  channels. 
That  is  why  Truth  is  with  me  as  my  companion — 
to  look  after  it  with  no  increasing  care  to  me." 

It  was  now  Attorney  Goodman's  turn  to  be  quite 
dumb  with  surprise,  but  managed  to  articulate : 

"What  a  curious  compact,  and  is  certainly  a 
blow  to  my  plea."  As  though  at  the  end  of  his 
rope,  he  sat  lost  in  thought.  "Can  this  really  be 
true  the  madam  has  been  telling,  or,  is  it  an  halluci- 
nation of  the  brain?  No,  no!  I  cannot  ascribe  it 
in  that  way,  for  her  will  is  to  be  drawn  and  there 
156 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

must  be  no  doubt  as  to  her  soundnesss  of  mind  and 
perfect  intellectual  faculties. 

"Really,  though,  it  might  be  a  pretext  to  defend 
the  honor  of  Miss  Hope — being  a  sister  of  Truth, 
in  whom  she  is  wholly  and  strictly  a  devotee.  Again, 
though,  I  am  at  random,  for  this  old  lady  is  no 
hypocrite.  But  what  if  it  should  be  an  illusion, 
after  all? 

"I  could  espouse  the  cause  of  Miss  Hope  with 
security  of  success.  But  the  will!  What  of  that? 
A  loophole  would  be  ready  for  a  contest.  Attorney 
Goodman's  judgment  must  not  be  at  stake !  This  is 
a  serious  turn  of  affairs  which  I  must  decide  scrup- 
ulously." Thus  reflecting,  he  said: 

"Madam,  this  dilemma  must  be  solved.  Can  I 
consider  you  correct  in  affirming  that  there  existed 
coins  termed  as  'Uncle's  Sacred  Money?" 

"Why,  certainly,  Attorney  Goodman."  And  the 
interested  woman  concisely  recounted  the  circum- 
stances attendant  to  the  Lump  of  Gold,  dwelling 
particularly  on  the  fact  that  Miss  Faith  Fairchild's 
believing  in  her  own  efficiency  of  faith,  could,  with 
the  aid  of  her  sisters — Truth,  Love,  Hope,  and 
Charity — easily  revolve  its  course  through  the  cen- 
ter of  the  common  wealth,  striving  to  earn  a  liveli- 
hood by  frugality,  honorable  toil  and  uncorrupted 
principles." 

"Your  explanation  is  satisfactory,  clear  and  com- 
prehensive, but  I  am  afraid  Miss  Hope's  case  is 
ruined  unless  I  resort  to  technicalities  in  order  to 
167 


LUMP    OF    GOLD 


stupefy  the  judge,  jury  and  people,  which  I  con- 
sider degrading  to  the  lowest  degree,  in  our  Chris- 
tian nation  that  boasts  of  its  superiority  in  self- 
government,  for  it  is  tantamount  to  an  evasion  or 
subterfuge  of  the  criminal  truth  and  would  be  a 
reproach  to  my  dignity  as  a  lawyer.1' 

Attorney  Goodman's  motto,  since  having  become 
a  practitioner,  had  been  :  "The  prevailment  of  truth." 
Thus  noting  that  his  client  was  becoming  wearv, 
he  said: 

"Your  will  is  now  at  issue;  we  will  proceed,  as 
it  must  be  witnessed  while  you  are  vigorous.  Please 
ring  for  your  witnesses." 

Touching  the  button,  Juliette  and  Nanette  re- 
sponded to  her  call. 

"Girls,"  said  she,  "Attorney  Goodman  has  writ- 
ten my  will,  which  I  have  dictated  to  him.  Al- 
though in  the  decline  of  life  I  believe  you  can  testify 
that  my  mind  is  unclouded  and  free  from  undue  in- 
fluence, so  that  you  can  voluntarily  sign  it  as  my 
witnesses.  Also,  I  ask  your  forbearance  to  speak 
of  it  to  others  than  yourselves." 

"I  solemnly  promise,  my  dear  mistress,"  said 
Juliette,  while  tears  trickled  down  her  rosy  cheeks. 
And  Nanette,  likewise  affected,  repeated  the  same 
promise. 

''There  is  no  occasion  to  weep,  my  dears.  Many 
years  may  elapse  before  it  is  required,"  kindly  said 
the  old  lady. 

158 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Both  maids  fondly  kissed  her  forehead,  then  pro- 
ceeded to  make  her  comfortable  by  arranging  the 
pillows  and  coverings  which  had  become  tossed  in 
her  exciting  episode. 

Attorney  Goodman  came  to  her  bedside  and  said : 
"Madam,  will  you  please  state  before  these  wit- 
nesses if  any  person  or  persons  have  used  any  un- 
due influence  with  you  as  to  the  assigning  of  your 
property  ?" 

"It  is  solely  my  volition.  I  alone  am  responsible 
for  the  allotments  to  my  special  legatees.  They 
having  had  no  knowledge  whatever  that  I  contem- 
plated making  my  will." 

"Young  ladies,  have  you  a  doubt  as  to  the  sanity 
and  clearness  of  mind  of  your  mistress — the  madam 
here?" 

"No  sir.  I  have  every  confidence  in  her  rational 
faculties,"  said  Juliette. 

"I  know  she  is  sane,"  answered  Nanette. 

"Could  you  take  your  oath  that  such  is  the  case?" 

"Yes,  Attorney,  we  could,"  in  one  breath  they 
answered. 

Again  the  attorney  asked,  that  every  shade  of 
doubt  be  removed:  "Madam,  you  are  certain  that 
you  had  one  thousand  dollars  of  the  so-called 
'Uncle's  Sacred  Money?' '' 

"Yes,  I  received  it  at  the  bank  and  Truth  has 
been  constantly  with  me  since,"  she  answered. 

"Was  there  more  of  it,  Madam?" 

"O,  yes,  Attorney  Goodman." 
159 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Hey-hey,"  he  articulated,  and  asked  the  wit- 
nesses to  affix  their  signatures.  After  having  seen 
the  old  lady  sign  it,  he  took  his  departure,  with  a 
request  from  the  venerable  lady  to  place  the  will 
in  her  safe  deposit  box  at  the  bank. 

This  had  consumed  several  hours.  The  maids 
served  nourishment,  drew  the  curtains,  administered 
the  elixir  to  quiet  her  nerves  that  their  mistress 
might  seek  restful  slumber,  which,  despite  the  po- 
tion, was  very  obstinate  in  granting  the  overtaxed 
mind  a  speedy  relaxation.  But  morpheus,  in  time, 
sealed  the  eyelids  and  laid  the  mantle  of  uncon- 
sciousness over  the  emaciated  body,  kindly  eliminat- 
ing the  harassing  cares  of  life  that  a  new  strengtli 
might  succor  her  to  regain  her  lost  health. 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Jingle,  jingle,  jingle!  sharply  rattled  the  old-fash- 
ioned doorbell — the  old  lady  not  caring  for  the  new- 
fangled things — seemingly  with  more  impetuosity 
than  usual.  The  vehement  tones  crashed  through 
the  quietude  of  the  house  and  reached  the  ears  of 
the  soundly  sleeping  aged  woman  producing  a  most 
startling  effect. 

She.  sprang  bolt  upright  in  bed,  and  with  wide 
open,  glaring  eyes,  sat  trembling  in  every  limb,  as 
she  stared  into  the  face  of  her  intruder,  Jeallo,  who 
recklessly  dashed  in  without  even  heeding  to  give 

160 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

the  tap,  tap  signal  for  entrance  to  the  sick  chamber, 
saying : 

"Oh,  Aunt,  I  am  glad  you  are  up  and  awake. 
Mr.  Peabody  and  I,  tiring  of  the  races — as  there 
was  some  misunderstanding  about  the  horses  being 
run — took  a  cruise,  motoring  arouning  the  country 
instead. 

"Look,  Aunt,  he  has  given  me  those  beautiful 
diamonds  of  which  T  told  you,  and  said  they  rep- 
resent quite  a  fortune  and  should  anything  happen 
to  him  I  would  be  well  provided  for.  Was  not  he 
thoughtfully  kind  ? 

"And  Aunt,  I  will  not  require  an  engagement 
ring  now.  You  can  see  why,  for  there  is  a  sweet 
little  plain  gold  band  on  my  finger  instead." 

"We  concluded  to  give  you  a  surprise,  after  all, 
and  save  much  bother  and  perplexity  now  that 
you  are  ill — besides,  you  would  feel  unpleasant  with 
having  those  desperate  coughing  convulsions  in  case 
we  had  a  home  wedding.  But  we  are  married,  and 
I  am  jolly  happy  now  that  it  is  all  over.  We  autoed 
to  a  little  town  and  Mr.  Peabody  procured  the 
license,  then  a  minister,  who  performed  the  cere- 
monial services  in  the  cutest  little  church  you  ever 
saw,  so  quickly  that  I  scarcely  realized  when  I  be- 
came Mrs.  Peabody. 

"Is  he  not  a  darling,  Aunt?     He  said  since  I 
belong  to  him  now  the  landing  of  his  ship  of  pure 
gold  does  not  worry  him  so  much,  but  without  doubt 
will  arrive  tonight.    Is  it  not  splendid? 
161 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Nevertheless,  he  feels  uneasy  about  you  and 
asked  me  to  return  and  tell  you  about  our  mar- 
riage. He  supposedd  my  dower  dot  had  already 
been  arranged  and  of  course  now  you  will  expedite 
the  matter  immediately. 

"He  mentioned,  though,  that  being  old  and  very 
ill  that  I  should  suggest  that  you  make  your  will. 
Shall  I  phone  for  a  lawyer,  aunt?" 

"No,  Jeallo.    I  shall  never  make  my  will  again." 

"Oh,  then  aunt  you  have  already  done  so.  Well, 
that  is  good,  and  it  will  be  a  great  relief  to  Harry, 
as  he  especially  dotes  on  you.  but  loves  me.  Of 
course,  I  know  you  have  willed  me  quite  a  fortune, 
as  your's  is  so  great.  Is  it  not  lucky  you  had  such 
a  rich  brother  to  die  away  off  in  Australia?  And 
now  I  can  buy  me  a  confirmation  dress  if  I  can  find 
one  that  is  as  lovely  as  that  other  and  not  have 
to  ask  Harry  for  the  money,  either.  I  must  go  to 
Harry  now,  who  is  waiting.  I  know  he  will  be 
overjoyed,  although  he  is  somewhat  anxious  about 
our  ship  he  expects  tonight. 

"Wouldn't  it  be  a-w-f-u-1  if  a  whirlwind  or  an 
earthquake  should  topple  it  over  and  spill  all  of 
Harry's  pure  gold  into  the  ocean?  But  we  would 
have  to  get  it  someway.  Good-bye,  aunt,  don't  look 
for  us  tonight,  as  I  do  not  want  to  meet  that  Truth 
at  dinner." 

Jeallo,  enraptured  by  her  own  selfish  private 
interest,  had  not  noticed  the  increasing  pallor  of 
her  aunt,  or  the  convulsive  effort  to  breathe  as  she 
162 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

placed  her  hand  over  her  heart  to  quiet  its  throb- 
bings.  Truth  had  not  yet  returned,  as  Attorney 
Goodman  had  met  her  and  said  he  wanted  to  hear 
the  story  from  her  of  "Uncle's  Sacred  Money,"  for 
her  sister  Hope's  life  depended  on  him  and  he  must 
conscientiously  do  all  he  could  to  save  it.  The 
maids,  always  on  the  alert,  had  heard  the  confu- 
sion and  on  Jeallo's  departure  entered  the  room  and 
found  their  mistress  unconscious.  Never  having 
seen  a  person  in  that  condition,  they  thought  her 
dead  and  were  apathetic  and  speechless  from  fright. 
Fortunately,  Truth  arrived  at  that  opportune  mo- 
ment and  viewing  the  situation  turned  deathly  pale 
and  frantically  cried:  "Juliette!  Nanette!  Girls, 
call  a  doctor  quickly.  Oh,  be  quick,  girls."  And 
when  the  physician  arrived  he  used  his  utmost  skill 
to  instill  the  old  lady  with  vitality.  To  a  certain 
extent  he  was  successful,  but  her  resuscitation  was 
attended  by  such  severe  spasmodic  coughing  that 
she  relaxed  through  weakness  into  a  stupor  and 
before  morning  lapsed  into  the  long,  long  slumber 
from  which  there  is  no  awakening. 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

True  to  her  word,  Jeallo  did  not  return  home 
that  night,  but  came  early  the  following  morning. 
Meeting  Juliette  at  the  door,  she  said : 

"I  thought  I  would  take  a  run  home  to  see  how 
aunt  is  this  morning.  Harry  did  not  come,  as  he 
163 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

is  out  of  sorts  because  he  did  not  hail  his  ship  of 
gold  last  night,  and  is  now  with  his  glass  survey- 
ing the  sea  coast.  I  told  him  he  would  become 
blind  straining  his  eyes  so  much,  then  he  could 
not  see  aunt  at  all,  so  he  said,  'To  show  that  he 
loved  her  he  would  send  his  remembrances !'  Why, 
Juliette!  how  red  your  eyes  are!  Have  you  been 
crying?  Has  your  lover  played  truant?  Or  what 
is  the  matter?" 

Sobbingly,  Juliette  answered:  "Oh,  Miss  Jeallo, 
my  dear  mistress  is  dead — died  this  morning  early." 

"Is  that  so?  How  sudden!''  laconically  said  the 
hard-hearted  Jeallo,  who  had  never  been  known  to 
shed  sympathetic  tears.  "The  dear — old — soul — I 
am  so  glad  she  made  her  will  in  time.  I  must 
go  and  tell  Harry  and  he  will  be,  too.  It  was  well 
I  bade  her  good-bye  before  I  went  away ;  also 
told  of  our  marriage."  Oh,  by  the  way,  we  cannot 
attend  the  funeral  tomorrow,  as  Harry  and  I  are 
to  motor  up  the  coast  to  sight  the  ship  loaded  with 
that  pure  gold.  But — yes,  we  must  be  back  in  a 
few  days,  by  the  time  the  will  is  read.  As  I  am 
one  of  the  heirs,  it  will  oblige  me  to  be  there  to 
hear  it.  Harry,  I  am  sure,  will  attend,  for  he  took 
such  a  decided  interest  in  her  making  one.  I  sup- 
pose that  sweet,  angelic  Truth  will  be  on  hand, 
but  it  will  do  her  no  good,  as  aunt  knew  exactly 
how  I  had  to  admonish  Truth  continually  or  she 
would  have  let  her  die  long  ago  from  utter  neglect. 
Bye,  bye,  Juliette." 

164 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Contrary  to  Jeallo's  expectations,  the  funeral  did 
not  take  place  the  next  day,  nor  on  the  day  follow- 
ing, Truth  having  had  the  body  embalmed  to  await 
the  coming  of  the  old  lady's  children.  Hearing  this, 
upon  her  return,  Jeallo  sent  a  note  of  regrets: 

"My  Dear  Truth:  We  are  so  burdened  with 
trouble  about  our  overdue  ship,  which  is  loaded  with 
PURE  GOLD,  that  we  cannot  possibly  lose  a  moment 
from  our  vigilance  to  attend  the  funeral.  In  fact, 
Harry  is  almost  prostrate  from  ceaseless  watching, 
and  I  cannot  leave  him  to  bear  all  the  fatigue.  Be- 
sides, if  anything  happened  to  it  while  gone,  we 
would  regret  it  all  our  lives. 

"Believe  me,  lovingly  your  friend, 

"JEALLO  PEABODY." 

"P.  S. — Be  sure  and  let  us  know  when  and  where 
the  will  is  to  be  read.  J.  P." 

Much  as  Truth  distrusted  the  affectionate  mani- 
festations of  Jeallo  as  being  genuine,  she  replied  to 
the  note  of  regrets  the  day  following  the  funeral. 

"Mrs.  Peabody:  Attorney  Goodman  will  open 
and  read  the  will  of  your  'aunt'  at  his  private  office 
tomorrow  at  10  A.  M.,  as  the  family  are  anxious  to 
return  to  their  respective  homes.  Very  truly, 

"TRUTH  FAIRCHILD." 

At  the  time  appointed,  the  interested  parties  were 
on  hand,  excepting  Truth,  who  that  morning  hav- 
ing received  a  note  of  condolence  from  her  sisters, 
Hope  and  Love,  hastened  to  send  an  answer  by  the 
return  messenger.  When  Truth,  belated,  made  her 
165 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

appearance  in  the  doorway,  Jeallo  rushed  effusively 
to  her,  saying:  "Good  morning,  dear  Truth.  We 
have  anxiously  been  waiting  for  you.  There  must 
have  been  very  urgent  matters  to  have  kept  you  so 
late  on  an  occasion  like  this.  It  is  now  five  minutes 
after  10  o'clock." 

"Yes,"  explained  Truth.  "I  was  writing  to  my 
sister  Hope,  that  I  would  soon  be  with  her  to  re- 
main and  be  a  support  through  her  trial." 

"O-h-h-h,"  drawled  Jeallo. 

"Yes,"  continued  Truth,  "My  whole  effort  of  lov- 
ing sympathy  will  be  given  to  my  sister  Hope  to 
help  shorten  the  days  of  her  affliction,  now  that  my 
sorrowing  old  lady  lies  in  her  tomb." 

Mockingly  sweet,  Jeallo  replied:  "Well,  dear, 
Truth,  come  in.  They  are  waiting  and  you  should 
no  longer  inflict  the  displeasure  of  Attorney  Good- 
man." 

Satisfactorily  seating  herself  beside  her  husband, 
Jeallo,  in  a  sinister  undertone,  said:  "Truth  has 
been  writing  to  her  jail-bird  sister  while  she  kept  us 
waiting,  and  said  she  was  going  to  her.  I  wonder 
if  she  will  occupy  the  jail  couch  also.  Being  known 
by  the  name  of  T-R-U-T-H  she  positively  believes 
herself  immaculate  and  can  convince  the  judge  and 
jury  that  her  sister  Hope  is  too  heavenly  to  have 
had  a  hand  in  killing  that  nice  Bishop,  so  that  I 
could  not  be  confirmed  in  that  lovely  dress. 

"Oh !  Attorney  Goodman  is  reading.  I  suppose 
night  will  be  here  before  he  finishes.  In  novels,  a 
166 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

great  length  of  time  is  consumed  reading  crusty  old 
folks'  wills.  Why,  Harry,  darling,  I  feel  just  like 
a  heroine  in  a  fairy  tale,  whose  god  mother  flour- 
ishes her  wand,  transforming  her  into  a  little  god- 
dess with  chalices  of  gold  for  drinking  cups,  and 
the  dew-drops  diamonds,  and  making  her  toys  price- 
less pearls."  Thus  Jeallo,  lost  in  her  outspoken 
reverie,  failed  to  note  that  Attorney  Goodman  had 
completed  reading  in  a  clear,  distinct  tone,  the  brief, 
concise  and  comprehensive  last  will  and  testament 
of  the  old  lady,  and  was  returning  it  to  its  former 
receptacle,  when  she  exclaimed : 

"Why,  Attorney  Goodman,  are  you  not  going  to 
read  the  will?" 

"Mrs.  Peabody,  I  have  read  it  completely." 

"Why,  Attorney  Goodman!  When  did  you  read 
it?  I  have  been  listening  attentively  and  thought 
you  had  just  commenced." 

"Well,  Mrs.  Peabody,  being  not  of  great  length 
I  will  repeat  the  reading." 

And  when  his  second  perusal  had  ceased,  Jeallo 
shouted : 

"Go  on  to  the  end!" 

"I  have  done  so,  Mrs.  Peabody,  for  the  second 
time." 

''But  Attorney  Goodman,  there  must  be  a  codi- 
cil," she  almost  screamed. 

Turning  the  will  so  that  she  also  might  scrutinize 
it,  he  calmly  answered:  "No,  there  is  none." 


167 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Well,  I'll  be  switched,"  she  yelled  in  hysterical 
rage.  ''That  horrid,  little  dried  up  old  witch  had  a 
great  deal  of  effrontery  not  even  to  mention  my 
name. 

''There  must  have  been  a  deal  of  juggling,  other- 
wise her  saintly  ways  were  very  deceiving,  and  it  is 
shameful,  with  the  sacrifices  I  have  made  for  her. 

''Why,  I  lost  no  time  in  coming  to  console  her, 
as  I  knew  that  her  delicate  health  would  not  permit 
the  handling  and  care  of  the  a-w-f-u-1  big  fortune 
which  her  only  brother  left  when  he  died.  And  I 
have  buried  myself  in  that  a-w-f-u-1-l-y  rambling  and 
d-r-e-a-d-f-u-1-l-y,  lonely  old  house  ever  since." 

Noticing  Truth  as  she  made  her  exit,  Jeallo  con- 
tinued in  spiteful  wrath  and  sinister  fury :  "Ah, 
ha!  but  that  escaping  jade  arrived  before  me,  pre- 
tending she  was  looking  after  'Uncle's  Sacred 
Coins,'  when  it  was  Aunt's  millions  she  craved. 
Her  heathenish  mode  accomplished  its  purpose.  But 
I  would  be  pleased  to  know  by  what  right  should 
Aunt  will  it  to  her?  There  is  an  opening  for  a 
contest. 

"The  viper!  No  wonder  she  sneaked  out  se- 
curely feeling  that  she  will  have  everything  her  own 
way.  But  Harry,  dear,  I  will  show  her  that  she 
cannot  so  easily  get  rid  of  me,  and  also  that  she 
will  have  ample  time  to  continue  her  moaning  and 
harping  over  'Uncle's  Sacred  Money.' 

"And  Harry,  my  love,  have  no  more  fear.  Our 
bills  will  be  paid  to  ease  your  anxiety  until  our  gold 
168 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

can  be  coined  into  money  so  that  the  diamonds  may 
not  be  sacrificed,  either." 

She  had  been  so  intent  with  her  crafty  spirited 
deluge  of  vindictive  and  revengeful  expressions  that 
she  had  not  noted  that  she  was  talking  to  space, 
while  fastening  her  glove.  After  learning  the  full 
significance  of  the  will  her  husband  had  made  a 
sudden,  hasty,  eager  and  violent  rush  for  the  street, 
while  Jeallo  was  writhing  at  the  highest,  in  her  in- 
sane fury. 

Discovering  his  departure,  her  lovings  and  rage 
knew  no  bounds,  and  exhautsed  her  lungs  by  frantic 
shoutings :  "Harry !  Why,  where  is  Harry,  my 
husband?  That  wretch  of  a  Truth  has  frightened 
him  a"way."  Calling  from  the  door,  "Harry !  Harry ! 
Where  are  you?  I  am  ready  now.  Your  dovey  is 
waiting.  That  sycophantical  parasitical  of  a  woman 
cannot  have  enticed  you  away  from  your  dovey  dar- 
ling, whom  you  told  this  morning  was  the  very 
essence  sweetness. 

"Ah,  I  know  now.  You  are  teasing  me  with  a 
joke.  Or,  rather,  you  may  have  rushed  home,  feel- 
ing that  those  diamonds  were  unsafe  in  that  suit 
case. 

"I  am  sorry  to  have  troubled  you,  Harry  dear, 
but  I  have  them  with  me,  and  the  best  of  it  is — 
am  going  to  keep  them.  My  name  is  not  Mrs.  Pea- 
body  with  no  recompense,  and  a  'bird  in  the  hand 
is  worth  two  in  the  bush.'  " 

169 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 
CHAPTER  XXV. 

On  leaving  Attorney  Goodman':?  office.  Truth 
entered  a  passing  street  car,  which  conveyed  her 
to  the  jail,  where  she  had  a  long  visit  with  her 
sisters.  Love,  Hope  and  Miss  Joy,  then  returned 
to  her  home. 

The  next  morning  she  found  a  number  of  press- 
ing bills  on  the  escritoire.  She  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  settling  them  even  before  the  severe  illness 
of  the  old  lady.  Then,  too,  as  Attorney  Goodman 
had  read  from  the  will  that  "Truth  Fairchild  was 
appointed  sole  executrix,"  she  proceeded  to  give 
them  her  attention. 

Going  to  the  closet  to  get  some  money,  she  sor- 
rowfully remarked :  "It  is  very  sad,  yet  I  am  thank- 
ful that  this  money,  'Uncle's  Sacred  Coin.'  can  fulfill 
this  mission  of  service  in  the  holy  ceremony  of  dis- 
charging one's  obligations  to  the  living  and  the 
dead. 

"My  dear  old  lady  would  say.  'Truth,  see  that 
all  the  debts  are  paid.'  '  She  reached  forth  her 
hand  to  draw  the  money  from  the  china  bowl  on  the 
top  shelf,  but  found  none,  and  stepping  on  a  foot- 
stool she  made  further  search,  for  she  could  not  be- 
lieve it  stolen. 

She  called  the  maids,  Juliette  and  Nanette,  and 
with  their  assistance  sought  every  nook  and  cranny 
of  the  closet,  but  with  no  avail. 
170 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Wearily,  Truth  said:  "Girls,  I  see  no  other  al- 
ternative than  to  place  this  matter  in  the  hands  of 
the  police." 

Juliette,  seeing  Truth's  look  of  exhaustion,  said: 
"Shall  I  ring  for  one?" 

"Thank  you,  Juliette,  you  may,"  courteously  an- 
swered Truth. 

The  chief  of  police  hastened  to  respond,  and  sent 
two  of  his  most  trusted  men,  who,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  Truth,  even  with  her  increasing  anxiety 
and  oblivious  of  her  failing  strength  after  such  a 
long  pressure,  removed  every  article  from  the  closet, 
ransacked  the  drawers  and  examined  the  furniture. 

With  confidence,  one  policeman  called  out:  "It's 
no  use,  Miss  Truth.  Some  thief  has  purloined  that 
money/' 

Feeling  heartsick  and  faint,  Truth  said :  "And  it 
is  'uncle's  sacred  money,'  too.  Will  you  kindly  re- 
port the  matter  to  Attorney  Goodman  ?" 

"1  will,  Miss  Truth/'  immediately  spoke  one  of 
them. 

Attorney  Goodman,  without  concern,  quietly  re- 
marked, when  informed  of  the  loss:  "I  am  not 
surprised." 

But  the  policeman  was,  and  stood  staring  at  him 
in  a  most  observant  and  bewildered  mood,  then  said : 
"Perhaps  I  am  a  little  daft,  attorney,  but  I  do  not 
understand  why." 

"Not  at  all,  my  good  man.     It  is  my  opinion  that 
I  can  place  you  on  the  track  of  the  culprit." 
171 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"That  will  be  a  good  job,  attorney,  for  Miss 
Truth's  anxiety  is  very  depressing  to  her  naturally 
strong  disposition." 

"Yes,  her  enduring  capacity  has  been  wonderful, 
and  the  intense  astonishment  at  the  missing  of  the 
coins  termed  as  'uncle's  sacred  money'  must  act  as 
a  serious  drain  on  her  nervous  system.  Therefore, 
we  must  honestly  aid  her  in  every  possible  way," 
quothed  the  attorney. 

"Surely,  attorney/'  assented  the  policeman. 

"Well,  sir,  many  diabolical  utterances  were  made 
at  my  office  by  one  of  the  assumed  but  disappointed 
legatees  after  the  reading  of  the  old  lady's  will  who 
died  at  the  house  recently."  And  the  attorney,  con- 
tinuing, recapitulated  the  scene  of  Jeallo's  angry, 
immoderate  and  unreasonable  repinings  and  of  her 
sarcastic  utterance,  with  an  important  toss  of  the 
head,  that  "Harry's  debts  would  be  paid." 

"Attorney  Goodman,  you  are  right,  and  I  will 
immediately  get  a  warrant  from  the  judge  for  her 
arrest." 

Jeallo's  narrow  mind  had  not  grasped  the  conse- 
quences otherwise  than  malignantly  spiting  Truth. 
She  knew  nothing  would  incur  more  harassing 
perplexity  to  her  than  the  loss  of  "uncle's  sacred 
Coin."  Therefore,  with  triumphant  satisfaction,  that 
very  same  evening  took  advantage  of  her  oppor- 
tunity and  procured  it.  Exultingly  she  exhibited  the 
money  to  the  hotel  proprietor,  as  she  had  believed 
her  husband's  hasty  disappearance  was  due  to  the 
172 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

cause  of  uneasiness  in  being  unable  to  pay  their 
fare. 

Jeallo  was  anxious  to  retain  her  husband's  love, 
the  which  she  foolishly  believed  he  was  powerless  to 
help.  Their  first  meeting  had  been  fraught  with 
eager  and  hasty  reciprocal  friendship,  which  resulted 
in  opening  the  well-spring  of  love  in  his  heart,  but 
the  fountain  ultimately  ceased  its  issue  as  he  dis- 
covered the  shallow  depths  of  affection  returned. 
In  the  superficial  transparency  he  had  discovered 
untruthfulness,  deceit  and  mercenary  gain. 

Like  the  predominating  spirit  of  man  he  disliked 
to  be  vanquished,  therefore  strove  to  subdue  her  by 
the  god  of  love  and  to  conquer  with  her  own  weapon 
of  selfishness  and  dupe  her  as  to  his  own  wealth. 

Consequently  he  delineated  not  the  intelligence 
of  the  manly  man  nor  yet  the  courageous,  but  that 
of  the  cowardly,  inasmuch  as,  when  his  true  love 
vanished,  he  continued  the  delusion  for  the  sake  of 
gaining  the  inherited  wealth  covetously  sought  by 
Jeallo. 

Now  that  he  had  disappeared  Jeallo  did  not  be- 
moan him  with  a  breaking  heart,  but  the  loss  of  the 
gold-laden  ship  was  disappointing  to  the  extreme, 
and  without  abandon  wended  her  way  to  the  wharf, 
hoping  to  find  the  ship.  She  did  not  hurry  but  took 
her  time,  that  she  might  not  miss  her  husband,  for 
surely  the  two  hundred  dollars  would  pacify  all 
restraint. 

173 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

She  retraced  her  steps  when  she  could  find  neither, 
and  consoled  her  disturbed  mind  with  the  fact  that 
she  still  possessed  the  diamonds. 

Deliberating  thus,  she  was  sauntering  up  ihe 
street,  when  a  policeman,  placing  his  hand  on  her, 
said:  "Mrs.  Peabody,  you  are  under  arrest." 

"What  for?"  asked  Jeallo. 

"No  time  for  explanations  or  expostulations, 
Madam  Peabody.  Move  along!"  said  he. 

"I  will  not !''  boldly  Jeallo  raged,  and,  when  he 
took  hold  of  her  arm,  fought  like  a  tiger  defending 
her  young. 

"Be  careful,  none  of  this,  mum,"  said  he,  "and 
none  of  your  back  talk,  either,  or  you  will  increase 
your  penalty  by  resisting  an  officer." 

"Well,  I  don't  care,  and  will  not  go  to  jail  where 
that  nasty  Miss  Hope  is,  who  killed  the  nice  Bishop 
that  was  going  to  confirm  me." 

Truth,  who  had  gone  out  to  recuperate  her  wast- 
ing energies  with  the  bracing  air,  by  some  freak  of 
fortune  passed  up  the  street  at  the  moment  when 
the  policeman  had  placed  the  handcuffs  on  Jeallo's 
wrists,  whose  ejaculations  of  rage  were  of  such 
vociferous  vehemence  that  it  attracted  her  attention. 
And  unconsciously,  as  when  the  pianoforte  playing 
caused  such  havoc  with  her  peace  of  mind,  Truth 
placed  her  hands  over  her  ears  and  increased  her 
footsteps  to  a  very  rapid  gait,  exclaiming : 

174 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"My,  oh,  my!  How  can  one  of  my  sex  be  so 
perverted?''  Turning-  for  an  instant,  she  heard  the 
policeman  urging: 

"Come  along,  Madam  Peabody,  I  say !" 

"You  have  no  right  to  arrest  me,  Mr.  Policeman. 
Arrest  that  hussy  that  passed  just  now,"  demanded 
Jeallo.  "She  nabbed  all  of  aunt's  money  and  is  mad 
because  some  one  secured  that  two  hundred  dollars 
so  that  she  could  not  secure  that,  too,  the  tormented 
interloper.  Her  disgraceful  sister  is  in  jail,  but  I'll 
fool  Miss  Truth  and  not  go  there.  Here,  Mr. 
Policeman,  are  these  diamonds  as  security  for  bail.'' 

"All  right,  Madam  Peabody,  after  you  are  turned 
over  to  the  judge  you  can  make  your  plea  with 
him." 

Truth  had  preceded  them  and  stood  at  the  grated 
window  talking  to  her  sister  Hope  when  the  officer 
marched  Jeallo  by,  who  called  out  in  loud  tones : 
"I  came  to  visit  Truth's  sister  Hope  in  jail,  but  will 
not  stop  now  as  I  have  an  important  message  for 
the  judge." 

With  complacency  the  policeman  greeted  Truth, 
and  said :  "Judge  Quinn  will  require  your  presence 
in  the  court  room,  Miss  Truth." 

Reluctantly  she  followed,  and  Jeallo,  not  waiting 
for  the  officer  to  turn  her  over  to  the  court,  drew 
near  and  said  with  egotism :  "Judge  Quinn,  please 
order  your  servant  to  take  my  big  diamonds  to  a 
jeweler,  broker  or  pawnshop  and  get  the  price  of 
175 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

them,  and  mind  that  he  honestly  brings  all  the 
money  back  for  me." 

"Not  so  fast,  Madam  Peabody,"  intervened  the 
policeman.  "Judge,  book  this  woman  as  a  thief  for 
stealing  a  purse  of  two  hundred  dollars  of  marked 
coins/' 

"You  told  me,  Mr.  Policeman,  to  make  my  plea 
to  the  Judge,  and  now  you  say  that  I  have  the 
money." 

"Without  a  doubt  that  fact  can  be  proven.  And 
Judge,  also  book  her  for  resisting  an  officer  of  the 
law.  You  bet,  Madam  Peabody,  that  will  give  you 
a  section  in  the  calaboose." 

"Officer,  do  your  duty.  I  have  no  more  time  to 
lose,"  said  the  Judge.  Thereupon,  Jeallo  showed 
her  teeth  as  does  a  snarling,  grinning  hyena,  which 
is  eternally  growling  as  though  it  would  be  a 
righteous  act  to  snap  somebody's  head  off. 

"Judge,  listen,  I  say!  I  have  some  great  big 
diamonds  that  my  husband  gave  to  me  which  will 
be  more  than  enough  to  satisfy  for  bail  money." 

"Let  me  look  at  them,  madam,  if  you  please." 

"Certainly,  but  that  chump  of  a  policeman  will 
have  to  release  my  hands." 

"Unlock  the  cuffs,  officer!" 

With  a  sigh  of  victorious  relief  she  took  the  jewel 
case  from  her  wrist  bag  and  handed  it  to  the  Judge. 

"Perhaps  the  purse  is  there  also,"  remarked  the 
policeman. 


176 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"No,  sir;  it  is  not,  you  brute!"  and  turned  it 
upside  down  with  a  malicious  smile  of  revenge,  as 
she  espied  Truth  standing  near,  added  "And  sweet 
Miss  Truth  knows  it  is  not  there." 

Handing  the  case  of  jewels  to  the  officer,  the 
Judge  said :  "Officer,  take  these  to  some  expert  to 
value  them  and  let  her  remain  here  until  you  return. 
If  of  sufficient  value,  she  can  go  on  her  own 
cognizance." 

"All  right,  Judge." 

As  he  started  on  his  errand,  Miss  Truth  went  to 
the  Judge  and  said:  "Thank  you,  Judge,  for  not 
committing  Jeallo  immediately  to  the  jail,  for  she 
may  not  be  guilty.  In  that  case  I  would  not  for  the 
world  have  her  character  stigmatized." 

"You  need  not  worry,  sweet  Truth,"  sneeringly 
said  Jeallo.  "My  big  diamonds  will  amply  satisfy 
all  requirements  and  I  will  live  sumptuously,  even 
if  you  are  to  receive  aunt's  pile  of  money." 

As  Jeallo  rested  her  mind  by  uttering  this  bit  of 
scorn,  the  policeman  returned.  Handing  the  jewel 
case  to  the  Judge,  he  said : 

"May  it  please  your  honor,  here  are  the  jewels. 
I  presented  them  to  the  Diamond  Palace  establish- 
ment and  their  experts  pronounce  them  spurious, 
not  even  being  of  as  good  an  article  as  paste — really 
more  like  crystal  glass.  To  make  a  sure  thing  of  it, 
I  took  them  to  several  other  places,  and  their  judg- 
ment concurred." 

177 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"He  lies !  he  lies !"  shouted  Jeallo,  "for  my  hus- 
band brought  them  home  from  Alaska  and  gave 
them  to  me  for  a  wedding  present." 

"Where  is  your  husband,  Mrs.  Peabody?"  asked 
the  Judge. 

"I  do  not  know,  Judge.  He  went  out  when  my 
aunt's  will  was  read,  which  gave  all  the  money  to 
Truth  and  me  none,  and  I  have  not  seen  him  since." 

"Take  this  woman  to  jail  to  await  her  trial,"  com- 
manded the  Judge. 

The  officer  snapped  the  criminal  bracelets  on 
again..  As  the  click  of  the  last  catch  greeted  her 
ear,  Jeallo's  arrogant  assumption  for  once  forsook 
her  and  cringingly  began  to  plead. 

"Oh,  Mr.  Policeman,  don't  take  me  to  jail. 
Please,  your  honor,  Mr.  Judge,  don't  let  him  take 
me  to  jail !" 

Truth  pityingly  stepped  forward.  "Please,  your 
honor,  could  not  I  bail  her  out?" 

"No!"  bluntly  answered  the  Judge.  "She  has 
imposed  too  much  on  you  already." 

Obsequiously  crouching,  Jeallo  cried :  Please, 
your  honor,  oh.  Judge,  if  I  should  give  Truth  the 
two  hundred  dollars,  would  you  still  send  me  to 
jail?" 

The  Judge  had  not  anticipated  an  alternative  like 
this,  and  in  his  short  hesitation  to  answer  Truth 
tearfully  intervened. 

"Judge  Quinn,  may  it  please  your  honor,  if  they 
are  the  marked  coins — or  uncle's  sacred  money — I 
178 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

beg  of  you  let  her  return  them.  That  really  is  all 
the  importance  attached  to  them." 

"Yes,  yes,  Judge,  it  is  really  'uncle's  sacred 
money/  "  said  Jeallo. 

"What,"  said  the  Judge,  "are  all  the  women  going 
crazy  over  'uncle's  sacred  money'?  jShow  that 
money  to  Miss  Truth  if  you  have  it,"  commanded 
the  Judge.  "Policeman,  unlock  those  cuffs." 

Her  hands  freed,  she  deftly  withdrew  a  purse 
from  the  inside  folds  of  her  shirtwaist.  The  police- 
man, taking  it,  said:  "Miss  Truth,  examine  the 
contents  of  this  purse." 

Truth  poured  the  contents  on  the  Judge's  desk, 
and  with  a  happy  look  said: 

"Yes,  yes,  it  is  'uncle's  sacred  money.'  '"  Picking 
up  one  of  the  coins,  she  showed  the  Judge  a  small 
hole  about  half  pierced  through,  close  to  the  eagle's 
claws. 

Bending  over  to  scrutinize  it  closely,  the  police- 
man exclaimed :  "Be  gad,  miss,  that  surely  is  your 
'sacred  coin,'  and  you  have  her  cornered  for  the 
'penn..'  that  is  certain." 

This  was  an  intense  moment.    . 

Truth — simple,  tender-natured  Truth,  looking  at 
crestfallen  Jeallo,  who  stood  quaking  in  body  with 
chattering  teeth,  presenting  a  most  dejected  and 
cadaverous  appearance  as  though  the  earth  was 
opening  to  swallow  her,  then  at  the  policeman, 
whose  face  depicted  the  most  derisive  scorn  as  he 
looked  at  Jeallo,  and  at  the  Judge,  whose  stern  look 
179 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

and  set  features  determined  his  uncompromising 
judgment.  A  feeling  of  the  most  profound  pity 
filled  her  heart,  although  she  knew  that  Jeallo's 
obdurate  nature  was  under  subjection  only  through 
fear  and  not  really  subdued  and  penitent.  But 
Truth's  soul  recoiled  from  branding  this  young 
creature,  with  such  a  perverted  mind,  with  the  shame 
of  guilt  which  might  be  the  stigma  that  would  lead 
her  still  into  deeper  depths  of  sin. 

With  tears  in  her  eyes,  she  appealingly  said: 
"Oh,  Judge,  please,  Judge,  have  compassion  on  her. 
This  must  be  Jeallo's  first  offense,  and  now  she  has 
returned  the  money  no  one  really  will  suffer." 

Replying,  the  Judge  said:  "Miss  Truth,  your 
clemency  is  without  precedence  and  denotes  the 
nobleness  of  your  character.  My  forbearance, 
though  against  my  will,  yields  to  your  solicitation." 

"I  am  very  grateful,  Judge  Quinn,  for  your 
leniency." 

The  Judge  had  before  him  two  women  to  con- 
template. "Truth,"  who  was  the  personification  of 
her  name  and  the  loyalty  with  which  she  defended 
it,  together  with  her  emollient  supplication  for 
merciful  indulgence,  won  his  unanimous  regard  as 
a  woman  of  irreproachable  renown. 

A  mere  glance  of  the  eye  completely  changed  his 
meditation,   for  he  saw  in  Jeallo  a  perfect  trans- 
formation, which  was  not  that  of  thankfulness  but 
a  return  to  a  look  of  victorious  conquest. 
180 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Consciously  his  softened  impulse  forsook  him 
and  sternly  said:  "Madam  Peabody,  if  you  had 
your  just  deserts  and  I  pronounced  my  own  judg- 
ment, I  would  land  you  in  the  Penitentiary  without 
giving  you  a  sympathizing  tear. 

''But  this  lady,  Miss  Truth,  whose  very  name  and 
nature  identifies  her  with  the  most  exalted  of  the 
earth's  inhabitants,  beseeches  me  to  set  you  free — 
even  though  you  have  let  no  opportunity  escape  to 
cast  slurs  of  the  most  scandalous  vituperations  to 
plunder  her  of  the  respect  of  her  friends,  while  yet 
smiling  sweetly  at  her  face. 

"Such  behavior  is  not  to  be  admired,  no  matter 
how  beautiful  the  outward  surface,  and  if  I  believed 
you  would  expurgate  it  from  your  character  I 
would  be  happy  to  say,  as  Christ  did,  'Go  forth  and 
sin  no  more/  but  your  very  countenance  betrays 
you.  Thus  my  decision  is,  Leave  this  community 
and  State  and  let  us  see  you  no  more,  for  your 
presence  is  an  execration." 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

"Leon,  Leon,  O  Leon  Martmorelli !  You  will 
never  know  how  I  adored  you,  although  I  could  not 
bring  myself  to  invite  you  to  be  my  king,  which 
afterwards  you  told  me  had  won  your  regard  as 
being  of  superior  maidenly  modesty. 

"But  Leon,  my  true  lover,  if  you  could  see  your 
Marquita — who  was  once  your  queen — in  her  small, 
181 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

close  apartment  with  hideously  disfigured  features, 
your  very  soul  would  be  racked  and  overwrought 
with  horror  and  disgust. 

"O  my  beloved  Leon.  I  may  still  call  you  by 
that  endearing  name  while  in  no  other  presence 
than  my  own ;  thus  live  in  the  ecstasy  of  your  love, 
for  it  is  all  that  I  shall  ever  know  of  earthly  bliss. 

"The  happiest  day  of  my  life  was  that  of  the 
garden  party,  which  was  such  a  financial  success 
and  succored  those  deserving,  dejected  people. 
After  crowning  me  you  knelt  on  the  dais,  saying:  'I 
pay  homage  to  our  beautiful  Queen  Marquita.  The 
sun  adds  not  more  brilliancy  to  the  sky  than  does 
her  beauty  lend  luster  to  the  throne  on  which  I,  too, 
have  the  honor  to  have  been  established.  Together 
we  will  wield  the  scepter  strictly  with  one  accord, 
subduing  all  strife  or  hostile  feeling,  that  harmony 
may  exist  throughout  our  kingdom.  I  greet  you. 
Queen  Marquita,  with  royal  favor  for  having 
ascended  my  throne/  Raising  my  hand  to  your 
lips,  seated  yourself  by  my  side,  and  that  fatal 
moment  made  you  sovereign  of  my  heart. 

"Ere  the  close  of  our  reign  your  soft  whisperings 
reached  my  ear,  which  sent  the  blood  of  love  rioting 
through  m}'  veins  and  painted  the  rose  color  of 
happiness  on  my  cheeks  and  translucent  sparkle  to 
my  eyes.  'Queen  Marquita  Forest,'  came  from  your 
intonated  breath,  'you  have  charmed  me  as  has  no 
other  woman  and  I  would  that  this  day  never  end, 
or,  better  still,  you  assent  truly  to  become  my  queen. 
182 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

giving  no  one  else  a  right  of  homage,  and  consent 
to  be  my  own  true  love. 

'*  'I  would  erect  a  palace  small  with  a  throne 
room,  wherein  we  would  place  Cupid — the  god  of 
love — to  reign  supreme.  I  would  be  the  subject  to 
kneel  before  your  royal  chair  and  worship  at  the 
shrine  of  my  beloved  and  beauteous  queen.' 

"You  paused,  Leon,  O  my  king — you  paused  as 
though  awaiting  my  answer.  My  heart  rapidly 
pulsated  with  such  loud  strokes  I  was  sure  you  could 
hear  it.  My  tongue  was  dormant,  not  from  as- 
tonishment, grief  or  fright,  but  from  unlimited  joy 
and  bliss  which  seemed  that  of  heaven. 

"Then  you  said  or  asked:  'What  do  I  hear, 
Queen  Marquita?  Does  not  this  felicity  meet  with 
a  responsive  feeling?' 

"  'Yes/  I  managed  to  answer,  'but  I  am  over- 
powered with  happiness  that  you  should  have  such 
exalted  love  for  me,  and  the  throbbings  of  my  heart 
must  be  as  deafening  to  you  as  me.  Surely  it  is  in 
unison  with  yours. 

"  'But  you  speak  of  only  one  seat  on  that  throne 
and  you  a  subject.  Nay,  nay.  Leon,  there  must  be 
two  seats,'  said  I,  unconsciously  giving  him  his 
Christian  name.  'Queen  Marquita  could  not  exist 
as  an  image  of  idolatry  which  could  return  the 
warm  fervency  of  your  love  only  by  a  cold,  syco- 
phant, staring  adulation. 


183 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"  'She  must  have  you  by  her  side,  that  she  may 
partake  of  thy  warmth  to  make  her  blithesome  and 
joyous.' 

"And  Leon !  Leon !  O  my  king  Leon,  how  it  made 
my  whole  being  thrill  as  you  clasped  my  hand 
quietly  in  yours  and  said:  'My  queen,  my  beautiful 
queen,  your  desire  shall  be  granted.  There  shall  be 
two  chairs  side  by  side,  and  shall  ever  remain  so 
through  our  great  journey  of  life,  not  even  the 
grave  shall  divide  us.' 

"Leon !  my  king,  my  king.  I  cannot  give  you 
up.  This  grief  is  more  prostrating  than  is  my  foul 
and  loathesome  malady. 

"What  am  I  saying?  Cannot!  Why,  I  must  give 
you  up.  I  could  lie  down  by  your  side  in  death,  but 
not  to  inoculate  you  with  an  obnoxious,  ulcerous, 
eating,  fatal  disease.  That  is  why  I  disappeared  so 
suddenly  and  entirely  dropped  out  of  your  life.  The 
doctor  named  the  disease  and  I  fled.  Leon!  Leon, 
my  king  Leon !  Do  you  miss  your  queen  Marquita  ? 
Do  you  miss  me  ?  Leon !  Leon  !  farewell,  farewell ! 
I  am  sinking,  good-bye,  good-bye." 

This  soliloquizing  colloquy  which  Marquita  in- 
dulged in  was  her  daily  recreation,  until  by  sheer 
exhaustion  she  relaxed  into  weariness  and  sought 
her  couch. 

One  day,  after  a  most  saddening  recital,  the 
attendant  called  her  to  the  grating  to  receive  her 
food  and  said: 

184 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Miss,  a  lady  sent  this  card  and  is  waiting  to  see 
you  since  early  this  morning." 

Marquita,  reading  aloud,  "Miss  Charity  Fair- 
child."  At  first  she  shrank  from  meeting  a  stranger, 
but  her  long  confinement  and  great  solitude  made 
her  eager  to  see  one  of  her  own  sex,  therefore,  for- 
getting her  unfortunate  condition  and  appearance, 
mournfully  said: 

"Oh,  I  am  so  thankful."  Then,  with  a  rush  of 
memory,  asked  :  "Will  they  let  her  see  me  ?" 

"Yes,"  he  answered,  "she  has  a  permit  issued  for 
the  sake  of  charity." 

Miss  Charity  Fairchild  had  been  sanguine  in  her 
belief  that  she  could  do  much  towards  the  improve- 
ment of  the  situation  if  not  the  release  of  this  un- 
fortunate young  girl,  the  knowledge  of  which  she 
had  obtained  from  the  Humane  Society,  but  on  be- 
holding Marquita  at  once  saw  how  fruitless  would 
be  the  attempt.  Her  whole  soul  was  wrapped  in  a 
quandary  as  they  each  stood  staring  at  each  other 
through  the  grated  window,  consciously  at  a  loss 
for  words  to  give  expression  to  their  thoughts. 

Then  a  happy  smile  replaced  the  somber  look  in 
Miss  Charity's  face,  as  the  mind  expressed  what 
she  could  not  speak.  Ah,  at  last  I  found  a  true 
work  for  "uncle's  sacred  money,"  there  is  no  sham 
here. 

As  if  by  magic  her  oratory  was  unsealed  and 
fluently  flowed  the  words.  "My  dear  young  lady, 
a  mere  chance  made  me  aware  of  your  presence  in 
185 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

this  place  and  had  great  difficulty  in  obtaining  a 
permit  to  visit  you. 

"But  I  have  accomplished  my  purpose,  at  the 
risk  of  the  contagion,  that  my  own  eyes  might  set  the 
seal  of  truth  on  your  situation.  No  words  have 
described  nor  my  imagination  fully  pictured  you  as 
residing  in  this  lonely,  gloomy,  sepulchral  cell." 

Solemnly  Marquita  answered:  "Miss  Charity, 
you  are  very  kind  and  the  words  you  utter  are  but 
the  echo  of  my  own  wailings  in  this,  my  living 
death.  Better  had  the  waves  swallowed  me  while 
in  their  embrace  at  the  same  time  my  parents  lost 
their  lives  in  a  wreck  coming  from  my  native 
Italy." 

"I  heard  no  name  from  the  Humane  Society," 
said  Charity. 

"Yes.  Purposely  1  guarded  it  from  the  public," 
evasively  she  answered. 

"J  understand  why,"  returned  Charity.  "1  over- 
heard your  monologue,  which  out  of  commiseration 
I  could  not  interrupt,  but  wondered  that  your  lover 
had  not  come  to  your  assistance.  But  you  repeated 
the  name  Marquita — Marquita  Forest  ?" 

"Yes,  that  is  my  name,"  reluctantly  she  answered. 

"Marquita  Forest.  A  pretty  name,  and  I  cannot 
upbraid  you  for  your  disconsolate  longings.  Have 
you  no  relatives  to  aid  and  give  you  comfort?" 

"No.  One  day  a  newspaper  of  old  date  wrapped 
my  eatables,  which  I  eagerly  scanned.  Mamma 
Forest's  death  was  chronicled  as  dying  from  grief 
186 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

at  the  loss  of  her  adopted  daughter.  And  her 
nearest  of  kin  received  their  inheritance." 

"And  your  own  parents,  Marquita,  had  they  no 
relatives?"  asked  Charity. 

"They  each  were  orphans,  having  only  foster 
brothers  and  sisters  who  were  extremely  jealous  if 
indulgencies  of  any  kind  was  meted  to  them  from 
their  adopted  parents. 

"Thus  from  childhood — although  in  different 
homes — they  met  in  reciprocal  friendship,  then 
mutual  affection  which  ripened  into  true  love  and 
afterwards  were  plighted  in  marriage,  in  which 
state  they  remained  unimpaired,  and  even  the  arms 
of  death  could  not  separate  them.  I  was  their  only 
offspring.  Oh,  Miss  Charity,  would  to  God  that  I 
had  not  been  saved !  The  trio  should,  as  they  had 
lived,  have  met  death  together." 

"Marquita  !  No,  no ;  I  pray  you  may  be  forgiven 
that  expression.  Let  not  despair  fill  your  soul." 

"But  why,  Miss  Charity?  What  have  I  done  that 
I  should  be  tortured  by  this  ignominious  condition 
of  my  body  ?" 

"My  dear  Marquita,  there  is  no  suffering  with- 
out a  panacea  or  balm." 

"But  there  is  no  balm  for  me,  Miss  Charity." 

"We  are  assured  there  is  a  balm,  Marquita,  else 
we  would  not  be  thus  commanded : 

'  'Go  up  into  Gilead  and  take  balm,  O  virgin,  the 
daughter  of  Egypt.  In  vain  shalt  thou  use  many 
medicines:  for  thou  shalt  not  be  cured.'  And  this 
187 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

balm,  then,  must  mean  the  healing  power  of  Light 
to  the  soul  when  despondent." 

"Light,  Miss  Charity,  is  not  that  very  vague?" 

"Why  should  it  be,  Marquita?  The  Supreme  One 
encircled  this  earth  with  an  agent  or  force  by  the 
action  of  which  objects  are  rendered  visible,  and 
created  us  with  an  organ  of  sight  of  such  subtle 
delicacy  that  we  might  view  them  in  all  their 
splendor  and  magnificence.  In  fact,  no  effort  was 
wanting  to  contribute  to  our  pleasures,  that  we 
might  seek  the  True  Light  without  recoil  or  dis- 
satisfaction." 

"The  True  Light,  Miss  Charity.  What  are  we  to 
understand  by  that?" 

My  dear,  we  will  look  in  this  little  book  I  have 
with  me  and  find: 

'The  same  was  in  the  beginning  with  God. 

'  'All  things  were  made  by  Him,  and  without 
Him  was  not  anything  made  that  was  made. 

'  'In  Him  was  life  and  the  life  was  the  light  of 
man. 

'  'And  the  light  shineth  in  the  darkness :  and  the 
darkness  comprehendeth  it  not. 

'  'There  was  a  man  sent  from  God  whose  name 
was  John. 

"  'The  same  came  for  a  witness,  to  bear  witness 
of  the  Light,  that  all  men  through  him  might  be- 
lieve. 

'  'He  was  not  that  Light,  but  was  sent  to  bear 
witness  of  that  Light. 

188 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

:  'That  was  the  true  Light,  which  lighteth  every 
man  that  cometh  into  the  world.' 

''Don't  you  see,  Marquita,  that  'God'' is  the  true 
Light,  and  it  is  that  for  which  we  ask  to  guide  us 
in  righteous  ways." 

"But,  Miss  Charity,  how  are  we  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  light  we  see  around  us?" 

"Marquita,  dear,  close  your  eyes  wholly  to  vision- 
ary light  and  forget  all  else  than  the  true  Light, 
with  which  dwell  in  communion  with  thy  whole 
spirit,  soul  and  body,  not  as  unseemly  selfish,  but  in 
true-hearted  sincerity,  loving  thy  brother  and  neigh- 
bor as  thyself.  Then  follow  strictly  without  de- 
viation the  teachings  of  thy  conscience,  which  is  the 
Light  transmitted  to  you  to  transfigure  the  soul  into 
Godliness." 

"Oh,  Miss  Charity!  There  would  be  no  conclu- 
sion to  my  worship  of  you  if  you  could  but  impart 
to  me  the  knowledge  to  lose  the  remembrance  that 
my  future  can  be  nothing  but  an  obscured  life, 
overshadowed  by  the  blackest  of  clouds,  which  emits 
not  the  refreshing  torrents  of  rain  to  strength  vege- 
tation's growth  and  heighten  their  animating  powers 
as  though  possessed  of  animal  life,  but  the  whirl- 
winds and  tempest-tossed  hurricanes  and  cyclones 
that  breeds  destruction  to  everything  animate  or  in- 
animate within  its  course.  This  is  my  doom,  and 
I  am  filled  with  scornful  contempt  when  the  light  of 
day  or  flashes  of  lightning  by  night  reveals  the 
189 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

passers  by,  who  with  index  hand  points  to  me,  say- 
ing: 'Go  not  near!  She  is  foul  or  unclean  from 
disease.  Approach  her  not !' ' 

"Marquita,  worship  belongs  to  God,  not  me.  But 
for  His  love  and  your  love  I  am  a  willing  worker. 
My  life  has  been  spent  in  seeking  the  truism  of  the 
mendicant.  But  no  incident  met  has  been  more 
saddening  than  is  yours,  and  which  will  require  our 
combined  effort  and  steadfast  faith  in  the  All-Wise 
One  to  instill  you  with  firm  belief  and  adherence  to 
the  true  Light  and  a  method  to  fathom  a  retrieve 
from  this  racking  restraint." 

"Ah,  Miss  Charity  there  is  no  hope.  A  leper 
cannot  roam  at  large  to  scatter  the  infection  of  the 
most  loathsome  of  diseases.  I  have  been  here  for 
months  and  you  are  the  first  woman  who  has  dared 
venture  near  enough  to  talk,  even  though  separated 
by  these  iron  grates.  My  nourishment  and  other 
necessary  accessions  are  poked  between  these  bars 
with  tongs,  that  our  hands  need  not  meet.  Dear 
Miss  Charity,  I  hope  you  will  contract  no  contagion 
from  me." 

"My  name  is  Charity,  which  means  munificence, 
and  whose  home  and  duty  is  among  the  afflicted. 
How  old  are  you,  Marquita,  and  how  long  have  you 
thus  been  suffering?" 

"Miss  Charity,  your  first  question  I  will  answer 

by  saying  I  am  twenty ;  the  second  by  telling  you 

the  story  or  history  of  my  life  up  to  the  present, 

omitting  the  one  oasis  in  my  desert  heart,  which  I 

190 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

feel  confident  you  heard  this  morning  while  waiting 
near  my  open  window." 

"Yes,  dear;  go  on." 

"I  was  fourteen  when  rny  parents  emigrated  to 
America  from  Italy. 

"They  were  tidy,  clever,  honest  and  industrious, 
but  their  savings  were  not  great,  consequently  took 
steerage  passage  among  a  most  cosmopolitan  class 
of  people.  It  was  rather  an  old  vessel  and  not  large, 
consequently  not  able  to  withstand  the  terrible  gales 
and  ride  the  monstrous  waves  encountered.  In  one 
of  the  worst  she  lost  her  rudder,  therefore  the 
winter  storms  sent  her  drifting  hither  and  thither 
for  days,  through  which  I,  not  being  a  sea  nymph, 
was  unable  scarcely  a  moment  to  leave  my  couch. 

"My  mother  was  courageous  and  did  not  succumb 
to  seasickness.  The  last  time  I  ever  saw  her  was 
when  she  called:  'Marquita!  arise  quickly!  Jump 
for  your  life !  My  God !  we  are  being  driven  ashore 
on  those  jagged  rocks.  Come,  Marquita,  you  must 
summon  strength  to  get  up  and  quickly  or  we  are 
lost.'  Terror  stricken,  I  leaped  from  my  couch, 
donned  my  apparel,  wrapped  one  of  the  bed  cover- 
ings about  me,  rushed  with  my  mother  on  deck  and 
joined  my  father,  who  clutched  his  arms  about  us 
as  though  to  save  us  from  being  wrecked. 

"I    had    been    taught    to    reverence    God,    Miss 

Charity,  and  my  unuttered  thought  was  'Only  the 

arm  of  God  can  save  us/  as  I  saw  the  gigantic 

rocks,  with  such  ragged,  protuberant  clefts  looming 

191 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

skyward  above  us,  among  which  the  huge  and 
mighty  waves  of  the  boundless  deep  was  swiftly 
bearing  our  rudderless  craft. 

"The  rain  came  down  in  torrents,  darkening  the 
heavens.  All  else  was  remote  from  observation 
save  the  stupendous  pile  of  stony  material.  Every- 
where was  chaos  and  confusion.  Up  and  down 
among  the  rigging  rushed  the  sailors,  then  to  and 
fro  ballasting  the  ship,  which  rolled  and  tumbled  as 
though  attempting  a  summersault  play  with  the 
monstrous  ocean  waves,  as  she  dragged  her  enor- 
mous anchor  as  ruthlessly  as  though  trailing  a 
tailor's  thimble. 

"The  lifeboats  were  being  lowered  while  the  pas- 
sengers— heedless  of  the  pelting  rain — were  de- 
voutly kneeling  in  prayer  to  Almighty  God  to  as- 
suage the  storm. 

"Never,  never,  Miss  Charity,  can  I  forget  the 
scene  which  has  ever  been  vividly  before  me.  I  felt 
a  giddiness  stealing  over  me,  not  from  the  inertia  of 
the  ship  but  sheer  weakness,  and  exhaustion.  My 
father  had  rallied  and  was  putting  a  life  preserver 
on  my  mother,  when  she  saw  that  I  was  swooning 
and  caught  me  in  her  arms  as  I  was  sinking  to  the 
deck,  and  I  never  saw  them  more." 

"But  you,  Marquita,  how  were  you  saved?" 
tremblingly  asked  Charity.  "How  came  you  here?" 

"Well,  my  dear  Miss  Charity,  I  was  saved  as  you 
see,  but  it  seems  for  a  fate  far  worse.    One  of  the 
cast  outs  of  earth,  and  why  is  it?" 
192 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Marquita,  dear  child,  I  am  not  wise  within  my- 
self, but  we  will  again  refer  to  my  little  book  for 
counsel.  'For  I  know  nothing  by  myself ;  yet  am  I 
not  hereby  justified :  but  he  that  judgeth  me  is  the 
Lord. 

'  'Therefore  judge  nothing  before  the  time,  until 
the  Lord  come,  Who  doth  bring  to  light  the  hidden 
things  of  darkness,  and  will  make  manifest  the 
counsels  of  the  hearts  and  then  shall  every  man 
have  praise  of  God.' ' 

"But,  Miss  Charity,  how  can  I  praise  God  for 
saving  me  from  the  wreck,  when  all  would  have 
been  over  in  a  moment's  time,  to  suffer  the  lifelong 
agonies  of  this  most  odious  disease,  which  is  the 
decay  of  the  living?" 

"Know  ye  not  that  your  body  is  the  temple  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  which  is  in  you,  which  ye  have  of  God, 
and  ye  are  not  your  own? 

1  'For  ye  are  bought  with  a  price :  therefore  glory 
God  in  your  body,  and  in  your  spirit,  which  are 
God's,'  read  Charity  from  her  book.  Therefore,  my 
dear  Marquita,  what  does  it  matter  that  your  body 
is  wasting  away  while  yet  in  life.  It  is  but  the 
temple  for  your  spirit,  and  the  ransom  you  owe. 
Your  being  rescued  from  a  watery  grave  portrays 
that  you  might  live  to  glorify  God,  your  maker, 
spiritually  with  whole-hearted  fervency,  sincerity 
and  truth." 

"Miss  Charity,  how  plainly  you  are  describing 
this.  I  see  now  why  this  fatality  may  have  over- 
193 


THE    UJMP    OF    GOLD 

taken  me,  I  kept  not  myself  in  the  presence  of  God, 
and  was  full  of  repinings." 

"Really,  the  holy  are  often  condemned  to  suffer- 
ing, which  is  another  one  of  God's  marvels,  but  tell 
me:  how  were  you  rescued,  Marquita?" 

"When  I  returned  to  consciousness  I  found  that 
I  was  firmly  tied  in  a  life-boat  with  a  life  preserver 
around  my  waist — doubtless  the  work  of  my  lament- 
ed parents — and  floating  in  the  water.  At  first  I 
was  too  weak  to  hold  my  eyes  open,  but  was  con- 
scious as  a  sailor  clambered  in  the  boat  and  shouted  : 
'A  girl  is  lashed  in  the  life  boat;  shall  I  cut  the 
thongs,  Captain,  or  send  the  boat  aloft?'  The 
answer  commandingly  came,  'Send  it  aloft,  mate.'  " 

"I  could  plainly  hear  the  'Heave  to!  Heave  to!' 
as  the  sailors  drew  the  lifeboat  into  the  hold  of 
the  vessel,  which  I  afterwards  learned  was  one  of 
the  regular  American  ocean  liners — and  distinguish 
the  tones  of  women  among  the  buzz  of  many  voices 
around  me." 

"As  they  severed  my  bonds  I  plainly  felt  the  pres- 
ence of  a  lady,  with  a  voice  like  a  seraph,  bending 
over  me,  saying: 

"  'What  a  lovely  face !'  and  as  I  wearily  opened 
my  eyes,  added :  'and  extremely  beautiful  eyes ! 
Who  do  you  suppose  she  is,  Captain,  and  where 
could  she  have  come  from?" 

"Then  I  remembered  all,  as  the  Captain  answered, 
'Very  probably,  Madam  Forest,  there  has  been  a 
shipwreck  as  a  result  of  a  terrific  storm  through 
194 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

which  we  barely  escaped  weathering/  Miss  Char- 
ity, I  perceive  now  that  this  bit  of  commendation 
of  my  looks,  spoken  by  this  good,  whole-souled 
woman,  has  been  the  stumbling  block  which  has 
caused  me  much  of  my  unhappiness,  and  as  my 
memory  serves,  I  imagine  I  became  very  obtrusive 
and  vain." 

"What  about  the  lady,  Marquita?" 

"Well !  she  it  was  who  was  most  constantly  by  my 
side  and  nursed  me  back  to  life,  although  each  and 
every  one  on  board  vied  in  contributing  to  my 
wants.  But  Mrs.  Forest  claimed  me  particularly 
as  her  own  special  care,  and  when  we  arrived  in 
New  York  invited  me  to  cross  the  continent  with 
her.  She  explained :  'In  pecuniary  matters  I  am 
not  rich,  but  am  comfortable.  I  am  a  widow  and 
childless,  and  have  always  longed  for  a  daughter. 
Come,  Marquita,'  said  she,  'and  be  one  to  me.  Come 
and  share  my  moderate  circumstances  and  together, 
as  mother  and  daughter,  we  will  soften  the  labor  of 
domestic  work  and  filialy  walk  through  the  journey 
of  life  together.' 

"I,  having  constantly  mourned  the  loss  of  my 
father  and  mother,  listened  to  her  words  as  being 
the  panacea  for  my  sorrow,  and  clung  to  her  as 
though  the  sea  again  might  rob  me  of  a  parent's 
love. 

"The  passengers  benevolently  presented  me  with 
a  purse  containing  a  good  round  sum  of  money 
before  leaving  the  steamer,  and  as  I  had  not  gained 
195 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

strength  enough  to  walk  ashore,  I  was  carefully 
carried  and  placed  in  a  berth  of  a  Pullman.  The 
complete  change  in  surroundings,  scenery  and  brac- 
ing air,  together  with  the  most  kindly  and  affection- 
ate care,  I  recuperated  rapidly. 

"On  all  sides,  I  heard  the  expression,  'What  a 
beautiful  girl!  Is  she  not  wonderfully  handsome?' 
Hearing  it  so  often  repeated  and  my  reflection  in  the 
mirror  coinciding,  what  wonder  I  became  proud 
and  conceited  over  my  looks?  " 

"Oh,  Marquita,  how  could  you  be  so  trifling? 
God  gave  you  the  beautiful  face  and  form  as  an 
ornament  to  the  temple  in  which  He  placed  His 
spirit,  and  you  were  a  malefactor  in  thus  usurping 
that  spirit  to  satisfy  your  own  inordinate  self- 
esteem,  as  though  you  belonged  to  yourself,  and  not 
wholly  to  Him." 

"In  the  extenuation  of  my  fault,  I  really  believe, 
Miss  Charity,  it  was  more  the  result  of  ignorance 
than  waywardness.  I  had  not  received  instructions 
exemplifying  my  conduct  so  explicitly  as  you  have 
unfolded  it  to  me,  or  the  termination  might  have 
been  different." 

"I  believe  you,  Marquita,  and  am  happy  to  hear 
you  say  so.  So  you  lived  with  Mrs.  Forest  ever 
after?" 

"Yes,   Miss   Charity,  and  although   she   did  not 
legally  adopt  me,  exerted  her  sincerest  motherly  care 
for  my  benefit.     We  had  no  conflicting  scenes,  and 
19G 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

she  was  ambitious  in  sending  me  to  school,  where  I 
became  proficient  and  ended  with  a  college  course. 

"In  her  loyal  kindness  she  never  failed  in  provid- 
ing and  helping  to  contrive  my  apparel  to  enhance 
my  looks." 

"I  can  see  no  wrong  in  that,  Marquita,"  advised 
Charity,  "which  was  truly  characteristic  of  Mrs. 
Forest's  love  of  the  beautiful  that  God  intended  we 
should  admire.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  utilize  our  talents 
in  artistically  arranging  many  of  the  adornments 
of  nature  to  embellish  the  person,  if  we  do  not 
arrogantly  parade  ourselves  as  being  selfishly  su- 
perior." 

"I  believe  you,  Miss  Charity.  My  foster  mother 
would  say,  'Those  are  lovely  ornaments,  Marquita, 
my  child,  but  we  must  not  forget  that  it  was  God 
who  made  you  beautiful.'  So  that  it  was  not  she 
who  inculcated  me  with  pride,  though  indulgently 
generous  and  perfectly  free  from  artifice." 

"You  had  much  cause  for  thankfulness,  Mar- 
quita. Did  you  allow  it  to  pass  unheeded  and  with 
indifference?  Did  you  also  permit  the  omission  of 
gratitude  to  the  Great  Father  Who  had  so  bounte- 
ously provided  relief  in  your  distress?" 

"Candidly,  I  did,  Miss  Charity.  But  nevermore 
will  I  fail  to  acknowledge  His  merciful  benefac- 
tions." 

"I  am  firmly  persuaded,  Marquita,  that  you  will 
adhere  to  your  decision.  But  you  did  not  tell  me 
how  you  contracted  this  terrible  disease." 

m 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Miss  Charity,  that  is  beyond  my  comprehension, 
unless  it  was  on  board  the  ship  and  was  refractory  in 
making  its  appearance.  I  mean  no  fallacy  in  thus 
explaining  it,  for  really,  it  is  my  only  suggestive 
point.  I  have  no  knowledge  of  ever  having  come 
in  contact  with  a  person  having  the  disease.'' 

"My  parents  were  of  the  most  cleanly  and  exclu- 
sive habits,  each  having  descended  from  the  higher 
class  of  citizens.  And  in  my  recreations  they  had 
simply  taken  the  place  of  more  youthful  companions, 
therefore,  Miss  Charity,  it  will  always  remain  a 
sorrowful  mystery  how  I  became  a  leper,  as  the 
circumstance  of  being  saved  while  they  perished." 

"The  conclusion  on  the  liner  was,  that  when  I 
swooned  they  lashed  me  in  a  life  boat  and  attempt- 
ing to  board  it — after  being  launched — were  plunged 
overboard  by  one  of  the  furious  swells  and  swept 
away;  or,  after  having  cast  the  life  boat  onto  the 
water,  before  they  could  enter  it  the  ship  had 
crashed  upon  the  rocks  and  all  on  board  sank  in  the 
limitless  graveyard  of  the  deep. 

"My  parents  had  not  known.  Miss  Charity,  when 
they  assigned  me  buffeting  the  mighty  ocean 
waves — which  at  any  moment  might  environ  me  in 
their  swirling  depths,  or  send  me  racing  with 
whirlwind  speed  far  in  mid-ocean,  where,  should 
consciousness  return,  I  would  suffer  untold  pangs 
from  thirst  and  starvation — that  I  would  be  sub- 
jected to  a  far  greater  fate  and  endurance  of 
misery. 

198 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Oh,  Miss  Charity,  you  can  sympathize  but  really 
you  cannot  fathom  my  grief.  In  the  life  boat  I  was 
unconscious,  but  now  my  whole  soul  is  in  a  state  of 
revolt.  Adder  stings  are  not  worse  than  the  agoniz- 
ing tortures  of  this  odious  disease,  and  untoward 
loneliness  of  my  condition." 

Never  had  Charity's  feelings  been  so  deeply 
aroused,  and  with  tearful  eyes  she  said : 

"My  precious  Marquita !  My  grieving  chiid !  Were 
it  not  for  these  iron  bars,  I  would  clasp  you  to  my 
heart  as  though  you  were  of  my  own  flesh  and 
blood." 

"Oh,  no !  not  that,  my  dear  Miss  Charity.  Al- 
though my  heart  yearns  for  such  deep  affection,  but 
I  would  shrink  in  horror  from  infecting  you  with 
my  hated  disease,  which  will  continue  its  gradual 
eating  decay  until  my  vitality  is  consumed." 

"I  have  no  qualms  as  to  that,  Marquita,  when  my 
love  and  service  invite  me.  My  features  might  be 
marred,  but  ulcers  could  not  disfigure  the  soul." 

"Before  God,  Miss  Charity,  I  promise  that  my 
soul  shall  not  be  impaired  in  future." 

''I  am  loath  to  say  good-bye,  Marquita.  I  really 
did  not  think  it  so  late,  the  hours  have  passed 
swiftly." 

" Will  you  come  again,  please,  Miss  Charity?" 
meaningly  asked  Marquita. 

"If    possible,    Marquita,    and,    I    believe,    I    can 
make  it  so.    I  am  here  now  by  special  permit  grant- 
ed through  the  Humane  Society.     Good  night." 
199 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 
CHAPTER  XXVII. 

On  reaching  her  rooms  that  evening  Charity  in- 
dited a  letter  to  her  sister. 

"My  Dear  Sister  Hope: 

"Much  as  I  earnestly  desire  and  crave  to  be 
with  you  to  give  cheer  in  this  most  distressing- 
annoyance — it  is  nothing  more,  for  Hope,  in  all  her 
purity,  could  be  guilty  of  no  criminal  act — I  cannot, 
for  I  must  fulfill  the  solemn  pledge  made  in  mv 
early  youth  at  the  bedside  of  my  dying  mother. 

"You  remember,  my  dear  sister,  that,  taking  our 
hands,  she  charged  each  of  us,  while  in  the  strug- 
gles of  death,  'To  live  a  true  life,  and  follow  the 
precepts  indicative  of  the  Christian  name  she  had 
given  us,  and  endure  nothing  to  infringe  on  its  loy- 
al and  earnest  fidelity/  Seemingly  I  now  feel  the 
pressure  of  her  cold,  clammy  hand,  as  she  gasp- 
ingly said,  'Charity :  In  that  name,  my  child,  there  is 
no  limit  to  its  signification.  Be  vigilant  and  seek  the 
worthy,  then  give  your  all,  or  whole  duty.' 

"And  how  wise  was  she  to  have  named  you 
Hope — for  it  is  that  which  illumines  your  life,  over- 
shadowed by  not  a  shade  of  despair,  even  now,  when 
the  day  is  progressing  for  your  trial. 

"But  my  dear  sister,  the  injuries  which  have 
seemed  to  envelop  you  are  as  a  mole  hill  to  a  moun- 
tain compared  with  that  of  a  once  most  beautiful 
girl,  who  too  is  incarcerated  behind  iron  bars,  not 
200 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

from  crime,  but  for  having  contracted  a  disease 
for  which  there  has  been  no  healing  since  our 
Savior.  I  must  go  to  her.  At  last  I  have  found  a 
philanthropic  use  for  "Uncle's  Sacred  Money"  Sis- 
ter Faith  entrusted  to  me. 

"I  know  not  when  you  will  hear  from  me  again. 
Surely,  all  will  be  well  with  you.    May  the  radiance 
of  your  hope  environ  our  pathway. 
"Affectionately  your  sister, 

"CHARITY." 

It  was  several  days  before  Charity — yes,  more — a 
couple  of  weeks  had  elapsed — ere  she  again  visited 
Marquita.  On  approaching  the  cell  window  she 
paused  and  heard  talking,  but  only  one  voice,  as 
before.  In  her  compassion  Charity  felt  that  the 
conversation  should  not  be  interrupted,  as  she  be- 
lieved it  contributed  to  the  lonely  girl's  happiness 
to  live  over  again  the  happy  episodes  of  her  life. 

She  was  saying:  "Mr.  Martmorelli — please  par- 
don— but  I  was  sent  thither  by  Mama  Forest  to  con- 
sult with  you.  A  family — Gallo  by  name — of  my 
own  country  and  of  much  worth,  are  in  great  dis- 
tress and  urgent  need  of  money." 

"The  father,  an  university  educated  man,  once  a 
banker  owning  a  lovely  home,  excels  in  the  manu- 
facturing of  the  finest  of  wines,  brandy,  olive  oil, 
curing  of  raisins,  and  other  horticultural  work,  hav- 
ing included  them  in  the  course  of  his  studies  while 
young.  His  ambition  called  him  to  America  to 
engage  in  these  industries,  Traveling  and  the  wants 
201 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

of  five  children  in  a  strange  land,  where  another 
language  was  spoken,  soon  absorbed  his  capital, 
which  had  not  been  great,  as  it  was  his  share  of  an 
inheritance  of  which  he  had  a  tenth. 

"He  sought  the  vintages  of  California  where  by 
industry  and  frugality  he  prospered  fairly  well,  until 
he  was  induced  my  a  man — Trusti  by  name — to  take 
charge  of  a  property  known  as  the  Archibald  estate 
in  the  foothills  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  mountains, 
where  the  climate,  as  you  are  aware,  is  most  superb. 

"Mr.  Martmorelli,  you  know  of  that  estate,  as 
it  is  very  large? 

"  'Yes,  I  know  of  it,  Miss  Forest,  but  am  not 
particularly  versed  as  to  its  circumstances,  for  it  has 
passed  through  many  managements.' 

''Yes,  you  are  right,  Mr.  Martmorelli.  It  is  a  vast 
holding  on  which  a  large  sum  of  money  has  been 
expended,  to  make  it  equal  to  any  olive  orchard  in 
the  world." 

"I  felt  the  flush  of  color  rise  to  my  face,  and  oh-! 
how  my  cheeks  did  burn,  for  my  listener's  eyes  were 
fastened  upon  me,  scanning — in  lost  consciousness — 
my  every  feature  with  a  respectful,  rapturous,  mov- 
ing look.  I  was  much  embarrassed  and  with  diffi- 
culty managed  not  to  lose  my  presence  of  mind,  so 
continued : 

'  'The  owner  thought  to  make  it  a  paradise,  there- 
fore intermingled  his  acreages  with  quantities  of  all 
varieties  of  fruits  subject  to  the  climate,  including 
202 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

many  intermixtures  of  nuts.  I  will  not  attempt  to 
describe  the  labyrinthian  walks  outlined  by  beauti- 
ful shade  trees  and  lovely  flowers,  Mr.  Martmorelli, 
but  Mr.  Gallo  was  happy  when  Mr.  Trusti  put  him 
in  charge  of  it.  He  too  was  from  my  country  and 
yours,  too,  if  I  mistake  not?' 

1  'Yes,  Miss  Forest,  Italy  was  my  home  when  I 
was  a  wee  one,  but  America  has  all  my  claim  since. 
Will  you  return  to  your  native  land  again?' 

"  *O,  no !  Mr.  Martmorelli,  I  could  not  leave 
Mama  Forest/ 

'  'I  am  happy  to  hear  that.  Miss  Forest ;  we 
should  miss  you.' 

"The  tell-tale  flush  deepened  in  my  face  and  I 
quite  forgot  the  wrongs  of  my  friends  and  felt  much 
like  a  dullard,  but  knowing  a  necessity  to  collect  my 
senses,  I  continued : 

"This  Mr.  Trusti  knew  comparatively  nothing  of 
the  numerous  ways  of  preparing  fruit  to  make  it 
savory  for  a  fastidious  market." 

"  'Am  I  taking  too  much  of  your  valuable  time, 
Mr.  Martmorelli?'  T  asked,  to  gain  time  to  collect 
my  confused  wits,  as  a  result  from  not  having  ming- 
led with  the  opposite  sex  during  my  school  days. 

'  '\o,  Miss  Forest,  my  time  is  yours,  and  at  your 
service.  Go  on,  please.' 

;  'Thank    you.'    I    said,    and    timidly    continued. 
'Well,  Mr.  Trusti — as  though  good  natured — inter- 
fered not  with  Mr.  Gallo's  manner  of  manipulating 
the  produce  for  the  market,  but  was  employed  in 
203 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

another  way.  He  sold  the  fine  horses  and  bought 
old  "skates"  in  their  stead;  sold  the  five  cows,  so 
when  the  mother  and  children  arrived  there  was 
no  milk;  shipped  carloads  of  oranges,  also  the 
raisins,  prunes,  olives  and  dried  fruits  left  in  storage 
by  the  former  tenant,  in  fact,  every  available  money- 
producing  thing,  and  received  the  cash,  so  quietly 
that  Mr.  Gallo  did  not  suspect  the  operation. 

"  'One  day  said  Mr.  Trusti,  'Gallo,  I  am  going  to 
Mexico  on  a  business  matter.  Am  wanted  to  look 
after  planting  a  vineyard.  You  are  all  right  here. 
Probably  I  will  be  gone  a  couple  of  months.' 

"  'So,  so,'  said  Mr.  Gallo. 

"  'Yes,  Gallo ;  but  I  am  short  of  cash.  Can  you 
spare  me  some  until  my  return?' 

"  'Sure,  Mr.  Trusti.' 

"And  Mr.  Gallo  gave  him  all  the  money  he  had 
for  the  use  of  his  family,  excepting  a  few  dollars  of 
change  in  the  purse,  and  Mr.  Trusti  left." 

'  'That  was  shockingly  bad,  Miss  Forest.' 

"Oh,  but  Mr.  Martmorelli,  we  have  not  come  to 
the  worst.  Mr.  Trusti  occupied  the  big  house  and 
gave  Mr.  Gallo — the  cultured  man  with  sweet  wife 
and  five  lovely  children — the  tenement  house  among 
the  willows  where  the  air  was  stifling  with  miasma. 

"As  a  consequence,  not  long  after  Mr.  Trusti's 
departure  the  little  ones  contracted  diphtheria,  with 
no  doctor  short  of  thirty  miles  and  no  money  to  pay 
one. 

"An  old  gentleman  and  his  wife  were  the  only 
neighbors  not  afraid  to  render  assistance,  but  even 
204 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

their  kindly  aid  could  not  relieve  the  little  sufferers. 
As  Mr.  Trusti  had  left  the  key,  Mr.  Gallo  moved 
his  family  in  the  big  house,  but  to  no  avail,  as  one 
of  the  little  children  died.  The  funeral  was  most 
pathetic,  the  old  lady  who  attended  told  Mama 
Forest. 

"The  pretty  mother  nearly  swooned  off  the  piazza 
as  they  bore  the  little  white  coffin  away,  for  which 
the  kind  neighbor  had  become  voucher.  'Oh,  Mr. 
Martmorelli,'  I  exclaimed,  'I  cannot  begin  to  de- 
scribe it,  there  was  so  much  sadness/ 

"  'And  the  other  children,  Miss  Forest?' 

"'Why,  Mr.  Martmorelli,  they  bundled  them  up 
and  boarded  the  train  for  this  city,  forty  miles  dis- 
tant, without  specifying  the  ailment. 

"  'On  arrival,  the  matter  was  still  more  difficult. 
The  pesthouse  already  had  a  smallpox  patient,  and 
none  of  the  citizens  would  take  them  in  on  account 
of  the  contagion.  So  the  poor  man  procured  a  little 
untenanted  place,  where  he  took  three  little  ones, 
the  mother  having  remained  at  home  with  the  baby 
that  was  not  so  severely  sick.' 

"  'Command  me,  Miss  Forest.  Let  me  know  your 
wish  and  it  shall  be  granted/ 

"  'How  considerate  of  you,  Mr.  Martmorelli/  I 
said,  as  I  noticed  his  pallid  face.  Said  I,  'Mama 
Forest  with  the  assistance  of  a  number  of  well- 
disposed  ladies  sent  relief  for  their  immediate  wants, 
but  the  doctor's  and  other  bills  are  accumulating, 
205 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

with  nothing  to  draw  on,  and  the  anti-toxin  must 
be  administered  freely  to  save  the  children.' 

'  'Miss  Forest,'  he  said,  taking  his  purse  from 
his  pocket,  'do  not  be  afraid  to  name  the  amount 
required.' 

'  'No,  no,  Mr.  Martmorelli,  not  that,  not  money. 
The  ladies  decided  to  give  a  garden  party,  and 
Mama  Forest  will  relinquish  rights  to  her  whole 
house  and  grounds  for  one  day,  and  they  delegated 
me  to  invite  as  many  as  possible  to  aid  us.  They 
said  we  would  have  a  queen  and  her  court,  also  an 
unique  idea,  to  have  a  king  who  would  crown  the 
queen/  - 

'  'Who  is  to  be  queen,  Miss  Forest?'  he  asked. 

;<  'As  the  time  was  limited  they  left  it  to  a  com- 
mittee, and  they  selected  me.' 

"'And  the  king,  Miss  Forest?' 
'  'Well — well — oh,   Mama   Forest   is   not   well — 
has  the  neuralgia — therefore  I  must  go,  Mr.  Mart- 
morelli.    Could  you  not  come  over  in  the  morning 
and  confer  with  the  ladies,  Mr.  Martmorelli?' 

'  'Thank  you,  I  will,  as  I  am  much  interested  in 
these  children  of  our  countrymen.' 

"'  'I  am  so  glad,  Mr.  Martmorelli.  The  ladies  and 
mama,  'too,  are  anxious  to  know  your  decision. 
Good  bye.' 

''Extending  his  hand  voluntarily,  I  took  it  as  he 
said:     'Miss  Forest,  do  not  hesitate  in  calling  upon 
me   for-  any  assistance  you  may   require.     I   shall 
always  be  at  your  command.    Good  bye.' 
206 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"There  was  a  light  shining  in  his  eyes  which 
frustrated  me  so  thoroughly  I  remembered  not  to 
say  thank  you. 

"I  went  out  with  a  different  sensibility  about  me 
than  when  I  entered.  My  heart  was  running  riot 
with  its  rapid  beatings,  as  though  pumping  blood 
through  the  arteries  and  veins  into  my  face,  which 
was  burning  with  fever  heat.  'I  am  not  ill,'  I  said, 
speaking  to  myself,  'nor  yet  tired,  but  certainly 
abnormal.' 

"More  strange  than  all,  1  had  forgotten  those 
afflicted  people,  and  I  tried  to  recall  them,  but  a 
spell  was  on  me.  I  could  not  dispel  the  magic 
charm  as  I  entered  my  home. 

"Tenderly  I  renewed  the  restoratives  on  Mama 
Forest's  head  to  assuage  the  pain.  Then  she  drew 
me  close  and  impressed  a  kiss  on  my  lips,  saying: 

"  'My  dear  Marquita,  how  could  I  do  without 
you,  who  is  so  full  of  affectionate  love?' 

"  'Love.  Ah !  the  problem  is  solved,'  I  repeated, 
as  I  again  drew  the  draperies  to  darken  the  room 
on  going  out.  'Can  this  be  love?  Was  this,  then, 
its  meaning?  That  one's  whole  being  is  so  filled 
with  the  most  rapturous  and  ecstatic  emotion  that 
they  are  oblivious  to  the  grief  of  others,  their  pains, 
ailments  and  all  the  harassing  perplexities  of  life?' 
I  said  aloud  in  the  quietude  of  my  own  chamber, 
'This  must  be  love,'  and,  as  though  talking  to  him, 
I  said,  'Mr.  Martmorelli,  I  did  not  come  on  a  mis- 
207 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

sion  of  love  but  of  mercy,  for  I  would  not  deign 
to  seek  love. 

!<  'Cupid  must  send  his  love  offering  on  an  arrow 
from  his  bow  to  pierce  my  heart,  else  I  let  it  lie 
latent  in  my  breast,  Mr.  Martmorelli.  Thus  I  can- 
not again  consult  with  you  on  errands  of  duty, 
therefore,  will  say  good-bye/  " 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Charity  had  no  intention  of  being  an  eaves- 
dropper, but  could  not  find  it  in  her  heart  to  inter- 
rupt Marquita  in  this  soliloquy,  seemingly  the  last 
interview  with  her  lover,  which  apparently  was  real 
and  living  in  the  past,  and  was  consciously  happy 
while  being  oblivious  of  the  thralldom  of  her  dis- 
ease. 

Having  ended  the  interview,  Charity  gently  said : 
"Good  morning,  Marquita." 

"Oh,  good  morning,  Miss  Charity.  I  am  so 
happy  that  you  have  come.  You  remained  away  so 
long  I  thought  you  could  not  again  get  a  permit." 

"Well,  you  see  I  am  here,  Marquita,  and  will 
leave  you  only  once  more." 

"Oh,  Miss  Charity!     Why  is  that?     I  shall  cer- 
tainly miss  you  and  never  cease  longing,  day  after 
day,  to  see  your   face  again,   dear  Miss  Charity. 
Once  more  and  then  always  remain  away?" 
208 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

''No,  no,  Marquita,  I  find  you  do  not  know 
Charity.  She  never  does  a  judicious  thing  by 
halves." 

"How  is  that,  Miss  Chanty?  You  speak  in 
enigmas." 

"Well,  my  dear,  we  are  advertised  to  sail  day 
after  tomorrow  on  a  liner  for  the  leper  colony  on 
the  peninsula  Molokai,  which  is  described  as  being 
divided  from  the  main  Sandwich  Island  by  an  as- 
tonishingly high  cliff  or  wall  of  pali. 

"On  his  way  to  these  Hawaiian  Islands,  rounding 
the  peninsula  before  reaching  Honolulu,  an  illus- 
trious writer,  as  he  craned  his  neck  from  the 
steamer's  deck,  gave  utterance  of  his  first  impres- 
sion, 'The  Pit  of  Hell.  The  most  accursed  place 
on  earth/ 

"A  month  later,  by  some  skillfully  planned  and 
determined  resolution,  he  and  his  wife  visited  the 
leper  city,  wherein  he  said  'The  joys  of  his  life  had 
never  been  happier,  although  no  inhabitants  on  the 
globe  knew  or  suffered  greater  affliction.' 

"They  found  the  climate  of  Molokai  exhilarating, 
the  scenery  magnificent  and  the  inhabitants  most 
entertaining  and  free  from  formality  or  prejudice. 
They  were  engaged  in  various  occupations,  con- 
tented, happy,  and  often  indulging  simultaneously 
in  the  modern  recreative  sports  of  the  day. 

"To   that   lovely   place,    Marquita,    we    will   go. 
There  you  will  have  no  more  prison  bars,  but  can 
roam  at  large  and  breathe  the  wholesome,  flower- 
209 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

perfumed  air  and  enjoy  the  companionship  of  an 
honest,  benevolent,  whole-souled  people,  where 
snobbery,  peculation  and  graft  are  unknown." 

Marquita  not  replying,  Charity  was  nonplussed, 
but  a  glance  in  her  face  revealed  a  melancholy  look 
quite  relaxing  into  despair. 

"Why,  Marquita.  Why  this  saddening  coun- 
tenance? I  thought  to  see  your  face  lighting  into 
mirthful  smiles." 

"Yes,  I  know,  Miss  Charity.  God  indeed  is  good 
to  send  such  a  happy  retrieve,  but  I  would  be  com- 
mitting a  sin  to  selfishly  jeopardize  you  to  the  con- 
tagion by  accepting  your  unselfish  and  urbane  in- 
vitation." 

"Let  your  mind  rest  freely  as  to  that,  Marquita. 
Although  I  be  your  companion,  I  shall  summon 
every  endeavor  to  escape  so  perilous  a  disease  by 
not  coming  in  close  contact  with  you  or  the  in- 
habitants of  Molokai. 

"There  is  no  place  where  I  can  invest  these 
golden  twenties  of  'Uncle's  Sacred  Money'  to  fulfill 
the  mission  he  desired  than  in  restoring  freedom  to 
you  and  administering  to  your  wants  among  those 
clever  but  outcast  people." 

"Truly,  Miss  Charity,  not  for  the  whole  island 
would  I  venture  there  to  sacrifice  you ;  otherwise  it 
is  most  tempting." 

"Marquita,  there  is  no  backing  out,  for  here  are 
the  tickets  and  complete  arrangements  are  made  for 
210 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

(W 

our  passage.     When  I  see  you  again,  we  will  meet 
on  the  steamer.     Good  night/' 

"Oh,  then,  Miss  Charity,  I  will  bid  America, 
which  has  been  so  fateful  to  me,  farewell  forever, 
but  I  will  leave  my  heart  with  Leon,  my  king.  Good 
night.'' 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 

As  promised,  Charity  was  on  board  the  vessel  as 
the  ambulance  brought  Marquita,  closely  veiled,  a 
few  minutes  before  the  apprised  time  for  sailing, 
and  was  conducted  to  a  secluded  but  airy  room  in 
the  hold  of  the  steamship. 

The  captain  had  granted  Charity,  through  the 
intervention  of  the  Humane  Society,  permission  to 
hold  consultations  with  Marquita  through  a  small 
screened  apperture.  easily  closed  by  a  slide. 

The  second  day  after  sailing  a  gentleman  of 
prepossessing  mien,  though  with  ^  a  quiet,  melan- 
choly air,  approaching  Charity,  asked:  "Am  I  ad- 
dressing Miss  Charity  Fairchild?'' 

"That  is  my  name,  sir.'' 

"You  have  a  young  lady,  Miss  Marquita  Forest, 
in  charge,  madam?" 

"I  have,  sir." 

"Can  I  see  her,  Miss  Fairchild?" 

"Have  you  a  permit,  sir?" 

"I  have  not.  My  name  is  Leon  Martmorelli,  and 
I  have  this,"  handing  her  a  paper,  which  proved  to 
be  a  license  for  the  marriage  of  Leon  Martmorelli 
and  Marquita  Forest. 

211 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

After  reading  the  astounding  document,  Charity 
said:  "But,  Mr.  Martmorelli,  perhaps  you  do  not 
know  that  the  laws  will  not  permit  you,  a  healthy 
man,  to  unite  with  one  afflicted  with  contagion  as 
is  Miss  Forest." 

"Miss  Fairchild,  we  are  not  within  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  magistracy  of  men,  but  on  the  great 
waters,  the  interior  of  which  has  but  one  ruler — 
God,  the  King — Sovereign — President,  all  in  one — 
and  His  law  is,  'Love  one  another,1  and  I  will  obey 
and  fulfill  that  law  by  marrying  Marquita — my 
queen  and  only  love." 

"How  came  you  here,  Mr.  Martmorelli?" 

"Miss  Fairchild,  I  had  no  ambition  for  business 
with  my  queen  gone,  but  disposed  of  it  and  wearily 
searched — but  all  in  vain.  I  knew  not  the  cause  of 
her  sudden  flight.  Even  Mrs.  Forest,  although 
aware  of  her  illness,  did  not  know  the  nature  of  it. 
Miss  Forest's  physician — true  to  the  vow  to  his 
patient — even  after  she  had  gone  would  not  make 
the  disclosure,  though  pronouncing  her  disease  in- 
curable, and  before  he  could  arrange  for  her  keep 
in  some  proper  place  she  had  fled,  and  not  until 
yesterday  had  I  the  slightest  clue  as  to  her  where- 
abouts." 

"Yesterday,  Mr.  Martmorelli?" 

"Yes,  madam,  yesterday.     I   saw  the  notice  of 

your  departure  in  the  morning  paper,  also  giving 

the  account  of  the  terrible  malady  and  sad  life  of 

Miss   Marquita   Forest,   and  therefore   I  came  on 

212 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

board  the  steamer  just  behind  her,  having  followed 
the  ambulance  down." 

''Well,  Mr.  Martmorelli,  God's  will  be  done.  We 
will  go  to  the  captain  before  communicating  with 
Marquita,  as  already  her  cup  of  sorrw  is  over- 
flowing. 

"Captain  Kidd,  this  is  Mr.  Martmorelli,  who 
wishes  to  confer  about  Marquita." 

After  explaining,  Leon  handed  the  license  to  the 
captain.  Reading  it,  the  captain  exclaimed :  "Why, 
man,  are  you  crazy  or  do  you  want  to  commit  sui- 
cide?" 

"Neither,  captain,  but  must  and  will  marry  my 
affianced  love.  Because  she  has  fallen  ill  is  no 
reason  why  our  betrothal  should  be  dissolved.  And 
the  only  place  on  earth  of  which  I  am  aware  that 
our  marriage  can  be  consummated  are  on  the  high 
seas  or  mid-ocean,  where  God  is  the  sole  ruler.  He 
sanctions  the  union  of  love — true  love — and  has 
tested  our  sincerity.  Thus,  captain,  we  shall  take 
the  solemn  vows  which  binds  us  together  for  life." 

"Are  you  resolved  in  that,  sir?  Are  you  certain 
you  will  not  repent  of  this  very  unusual  sacrifice?" 

"Captain !  sir !  When  Marquita  in  her  regal 
beauty  consented  to  become  my  queen,  I  assured 
her  I  would  build  a  diminutive  palace  with  a  throne 
room.  Now,  although  marring  disease  disfigures 
her  body,  the  love  and  affection  which  comes  from 
the  soul  is  intact.  And  now  a  citadel  shall  be  con- 
structed, fortified  by  the  great  wall  of  pali  on  one 
213 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

side  and  the  remaining  ones  guarded  by  the  cease- 
less sentinel  movements  of  the  mighty  ocean  waves, 
so  that  our  segregation  from  the  outside  world  will 
be  complete." 

"But  you  are  no  leper,  sir.    Why  marry  her?" 

"And  thus  complete  her  destruction  by  polluting 
her  soul?  Not  for  the  sovereignty  of  this  earth 
would  I  become  such  a  poltroon,  Captain  Kidd. 
And,  Captain  Kidd,  no  matter  the  port  or  the  ruler. 
I  am  a  law-abiding  citizen. 

"These  depths  belong  not  to  human  captaincy,  but 
to  a  Supreme  and  more  efficacious  Power  that  can 
instigate  them  into  the  most  violent  rage,  then — 
with  no  abrupt  show  of  command  or  ostentation — 
calm  to  tranquil  rest,  thus  creating  a  disturbing 
commotion  for  a  cause  which  we  cannot  understand, 
but  the  effect  of  the  waves  rippling  in  quietude  and 
peace  fills  our  souls  with  rapture  which  we  picture 
as  love.  Captain  Kidd,  you  are  governor  of  this 
vessel  and  your  command  is  law,  which,  in  unison 
with  the  Great  Monarch  on  whose  premises  we  are 
sailing,  can  assuage  the  tumultuous  agitations  of 
two  tempest-tossed  hearts  and  let  love  reign  supreme. 

"Thus,  Captain  Kidd,  your  acquiescence  in  unit- 
ing us  in  moral  bonds  will  make  the  equation  of 
the  character  of  love  non-critically  pure  and  my 
remaining  by  the  side  of  Marquita  a  benediction 
which  no  one  but  God  can  sever." 

"Mate,  call  the  chaplain !"  roared  the  captain.. 
"To  be  on  the  safe  side  to  land  this  determined 
214 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

man  in  the  leper  colony  the  chaplain  will  need  to 
repeat  his  blessings,  which  I  will  sanction." 

Marquita's  soul  was  overwrought  with  tribula- 
tion and  revolted  at  their  marriage.  But  Leon's  ad- 
herence to  his  inflexible  resolution  won  her  as  his 
own,  to  be  queen  of  his  heart  in  the  lepers'  paradise. 

The  ceremony  over,  Marquita,  with  more  en- 
thusiasm than  yet  evinced,  asked :  "Miss  Charity, 
why  has  this  good  fortune  and  happiness  come  to 
me?" 

"Marquita,  dear,  I  can  believe  by  your  silent  and 
earnest  solicitations  to  the  Invisible  Guider  and  God, 
which  will  ever  be  the  mainspring  to  keep  your 
hands  clasped  in  happiness  through  the  remainder 
of  your  life." 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

After  many  weary  months  court  convened  for 
the  trial  of  Hope  Fairchild,  and  proceeded  without 
interruption  after  the  jury  had  been  impaneled. 

The  prosecution   handled   the  event   dextrously, 
having  incontrovertible  proof,  and  rested  their  case- 
Attorney   Goodman,    for   the   defense,   made   no 
attempt  to  establish  a  demented  state,  but  instituted 
the  fact  that  the  robbery  chieftain   was  no  myth. 
And  to  verify  the  point  that  other  inmates  were 
dwellers  in  the  cottage  he  minutely  delineated  by 
the  policeman's  testimony — who  from  Miss  Hope's 
partial  diagram  had  completed  an  outline  from  the 
215 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Bishop's  door  direct  to  the  cottage — that  evidenced 
where  numerous  tramplings  of  feet  were  made  and 
that  she  was  being  held  an  unwilling  prisoner. 

The  found  slipper  had  tallied  with  the  odd  one 
she  had  worn  on  her  return,  the  hairpin  matched 
those  she  still  had  in  her  hair,  the  initialed  hand- 
kerchief, the  comfortable  pile  of  fresh  straw  for  a 
bed  and  the  old,  patched  broken  chair  beside  the 
barrel  table,  on  which  yet  remained  the  slightly 
tasted  lunch,  evinced  that  it  was  Miss  Hope  that 
had  partaken  of  the  primitive  hospitality  in  the 
small  bedroom  of  the  recluse  habitation.  Attorney 
Goodman  invited  the  court  and  jury  to  repair  to 
the  cottage,  that  they  might  obtain  a  definite  sig- 
nification to  satisfy  their  judgment. 

" After  which,"  said  Attorney  Goodman,  "I  rest 
my  case."  The  Judge  adjourned  until  the  following 
day,  when  they  would  make  the  necessary  inspec- 
tion. 

Appearing  again  in  the  court  room,  a  different 
aspect  pervaded  the  features  of  the  jury.  The 
stoical,  fixed  and  obstinate  determination  had  given 
place  to  a  look  of  apprehension.  The  knitted  eye- 
brows were  studiously  lowered  over  downcast  eyes. 
The  faces  were  drawn  in  thought,  as  though  pene- 
trating the  utmost  possibility  in  the  contingency  of 
guilty  or  not  guilty. 

The  Judge,  noting  their  frame  of  mind,  arose 
and  summed  the  evidence,  dwelling  particularly  on 
the  fact  that  the  prosecution  obviously  had  not  con- 
216 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

stituted  a  reason  for  Miss  Hope — were  she  not  an 
accomplice — returning  with  the  full  amount  of 
money.  The  prescribed  ''Uncle's  Sacred  Coin"  re- 
ceived not  the  pleadings,  as  having  originated  from 
an  unsound  mind.  Nor  did  the  prosecution  attempt 
to  substantiate  how  she  came  in  possession  of  it. 
Had  she  companions,  the  circumstance  of  their 
giving  it  into  her  ownership  is  too  preposterious 
even  to  be  supposed. 

"Gentlemen  of  the  jury,  I  instruct  you  to  care- 
fully weigh  the  convincing  proofs  in  your  mind  and 
admonish  you  to  return  a  verdict,  not  through  sym- 
pathetic compassion  for  this  beautiful  young  woman, 
that  still  maintains  the  semblance  of  a  Christian  life 
as  when  being  filially  entertained  in  the  holy 
Bishop's  household,  nor  yet  for  the  deep  affection 
of  that  Godly  man,  who  is  still  reverenced  with 
cherishing  memory  by  his  beloved  people,  but  the 
conviction  in  your  own  mind,  the  substantiated 
and  conclusive  evidence  as  to  who  murdered  the 
Bishop. 

"Jurymen,  you  are  the  arbitrators  to  decide  this 
case,  and,  if  you  are  convinced  that  this  young  lady 
is  the  perpetrator,  let  nothing  contravene  to  obscure 
your  decision,  but  stand  stanch  to  the  conformity 
of  truth  and  justice. 

"If  it  has  been  settled  in  your  minds  as  conflict- 
ing or  a  reasonable  doubt,  then  your  verdict  must 
be  acquittal,  but  if  conclusive  the  judgment  rendered 

217 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

certainly  should  be  guilty.     I  nosv  order  your  re- 
tirement for  final  adjudication.'' 

CHAPTER    XXXI. 


The  Judge's  summing  having  proved  effectual  in 
bringing  the  full  circumstantial  evidence  into  a  very 
small  compass,  the  jury  remained  not  many  hours 
out  ere  they  sent  a  message  of  agreement. 

Recalling  them,  the  usual  course  of  the  law  was 
adhered  to.  The  foreman,  giving  the  official  report, 
the  Judge  arose,  and,  in  unfaltering  tones  that 
seemed  to  ring  through  space — so  quiet  was  the 
vast  audience — said : 

"'Jurymen,  I  congratulate  your  nobility  in  thus 
deciding  the  justice  of  this  case.  You  could  not 
possibly  have  rendered  a  different  decision.  You 
have  done  well,  for  youth,  beauty  and  innocence — 
seemingly — were  at  stake  and  your  mercy  while  the 
rendering  of  due  justice  to  the  Bishop  was  in  the 
balance.  His  followers  demanded  an  equitable  de- 
cision as  being  a  recompense  for  their  great  loss. 
His  constant  energy,  exemplary  character  and  de- 
votional effort  to  bring  them  in  accord  and  nearer 
their  Maker  was  in  conformity  to  his  teachings. 

"Fellow-citizens,  these  men,  impaneled  with  the 
strictest  deference  to  the  law  as  jurymen,  have 
weighed  this  difficult  and  serious  matter  in  the 
scale  of  justice,  and  with  no  dissenting  voice  have 
decided  that  this  young  lady,  standing  before  you 

" 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

in  the  prisoner's  box,  with  eyes  turned  heavenward 
as  though  imploring  the  Almighty  to  condone  her 
fault  by  publicly  making  known  her  innocence,  is 
guilty.  Yes,  guilty  of  murder  in  the  first  degree, 
and  the  penalty  is  death." 

The  breathing  of  the  spectators  in  the  crowded 
court-room,  which  a  moment  before  had  seemed 
abated,  burst  into  satisfactory  subvocal  whisperings 
that  echoed  into  every  receptacle  of  the  spacious 
room. 

Hope  stood  as  though  rigid  in  death  with  its 
pallor,  her  eyes  transfixed — not  heavenward  now, 
but  on  a  figure  standing  by  the  door,  then  advancing 
through  the  aisle  and  quietly  taking  his  station  by 
her  side — facing  the  court  and  placing  his  hand  on 
his  heart  pronounced  the  words : 

"Judge,  I  solemnly  swear  that  this  woman  is  not 
guilty. 

"Judge  and  jury,  I  am  the  robber  chieftain.  This 
young  lady  surprised  the  robber  and  Bishop's  mur- 
derer and  followed  him  into  my  cottage  rendezvous, 
remaining  until  we  were  obliged  to  flee  the  country ; 
then  resolutely  insisted  that  she  would  accompany 
us  hither  and  thither,  no  matter  what  the  condition 
or  sacrifice,  and  deliver  us  into  the  hands  of  justice, 
unless  we  gave  into  her  possession  what  she  had 
termed  'Uncle's  Sacred  Coin,'  that  her  father  Bishop 
intended  for  the  investment  of  establishing  freedom 
quarters  for  homeless  young  men  in  the  city. 
219 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Her  purity  of  character  won  our  respect,  her 
demeanor  our  regard,  and  unwavering,  sacrificing 
unselfishness — of  which,  as  an  example,  her  present 
act  of  giving  her  own  life  to  save  the  guilty — our 
adoration. 

"Her  Christian  principles  and  teachings  influ- 
enced us  to  bow  before  the  Great  and  Hallowed 
Chief  who  sits  on  the  throne  of  eternal  righteous- 
ness," pointing  to  Miss  Hope,  "and  she  is  one  of 
His  angels."  Then  reached  forth  and  caught  her 
swooning  in  his  arms  for  she  who  had  been  stanch 
and  self-reliant  in  her  hope  as  being  the  protector 
of  her  innocence,  had  lost  consciousness. 

"This  is  audacious,"  shouted  a  man  from  the 
audience,  "a  sacrifice  to  the  death  of  our  loved 
Bishop.  Lynch  him !  Lynch  this  diabolical  mur- 
derer! Lynch  law  requires  not  judge  or  jury. 
Coldbloodedly  this  man  caused  the  Christian  blood 
of  the  Bishop  to  flow,  and  the  wrath  of  his  people 
waxes  warm  to  stretch  his  diabolical  neck.  Get  you 
out,  vestrymen,  and  hie  for  a  rope,  while  we  drag 
him  forth  with  his  companion  in  guilt." 

The  alarming  refrain,  "Lynch  him!"  "Lynch 
him !"  was  caught  by  many  voices  and  reverberated 
from  echo  to  echo,  until  the  whole  assembly  was 
in  an  uproar  of  highest  pitched  frenzy. 

Numbers  proceeded  to  drag  the  defenseless  man 
— who  still  retained  the  form  of  the  beautiful,  un- 
conscious girl — toward  the  door. 
220 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Suddenly  they  were  startled  by  an  unearthly 
scream,  as  though  originating  from  the  uncontrol- 
lable, maddening  throat  of  a  lunatic. 

With  horror  they  dropped  their  victim  as  they 
saw  a  tall,  dark  man  enter  the  court-room  and 
mount  the  Judge's  desk,  yelling  with  the  rage  of 
fury : 

"Beasts  of  the  earth,  that  lack  only  the  instru- 
ments to  gouge  that  man  of  his  vitality,  let  go  thy 
hold  and  restore  that  lifeless  woman,  or  by  the  jee- 
whillo-me-cuss,  I  will  send  you  to  the  blue  blast- 
ing realms  of  the  ungodly.  Not  again  would  I  cause 
the  blood  to  gush,  but  you  accursed  idots  may  com- 
pel me.  It  was  not  he,  but  I,  Hidalgo,  who  spurted 
the  Bishop's  blood  as  he  suddenly  came  upon  me 
while  renewing  my  exchequer  from  his  safe. 

"And  you — carrion  vultures — are  no  better.  Had 
I  not  have  followed  my  chieftain,  ere  this  you 
would  have  throttled  his  throat — yes,  the  throat  of 
my  God-loving  benefactor — with  a  rope  to  shut  off 
his  breathing  apparatus. 

"And  you  heathens,  what  do  you  call  that  but 
murder?  When  I  clutched  that  money  by  that 
stream  of  the  Bishop's  blood  I  did  not  profess  to 
know  God,  nor  do  I  now,  but  I  will  take  my  chances 
against  you  who  have  murder  in  your  hearts.  Why 
should  you  also  be  justified  in  depriving  that  girl  of 
life  because  of  imaginary  evidence? 

"And  that  man  you  are  holding  captive  never 
stole  as  much  as  a  toothpick,  nor  committed  a 
221 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

crime  unless  it  was  in  rescuing  me  from  the  black 
depths  of  a  surging  creek  which  as  a  chastisement 
would  have  sent  my  soul  floundering  in  the  regions 
of  the  damned.  Ever  after  my  hand — whose  love 
he  won — for  even  bandits  have  that  gift  though 
dormant — dubbed  him  chieftain.  As  his  family, 
he  used  every  effort  to  arouse  the  spontaniety  of 
good  in  our  intercourse  and  all  our  transactions, 
which  too  often  was  unheeded. 

"Look  ye!  at  his  manly  bearing!  He  compares 
well  with  the  scions  of  the  realm  of  which  he 
really  is  the  prince.  His  father  being  the  rightful 
heir  to  the  throne  was  banished  by  a  pretender 
who  dethroned  him.  After  which,  bringing  his 
queen  and  little  son  Rudolph  with  him,  sought  and 
found  the  secluded  place  and  built  a  cottage  home 
where  they  happily  lived  until  death  silently  re- 
moved the  parents  to  realms  of  the  unknown  future, 
leaving  the  son  not  to  wear  the  crowned  title  of 
nobility,  but  that  of  unsullied  nobleness  of  man- 
hood. And  heroically  he  is  now  showing  it  by 
letting  you  'villians'  take  his  life  to  save  me,  the 
most  lawless  and  desperate  of  his  band. 

"Should  our  chieftain  have  called  us — his  follow- 
ers— to  rescue  that  young  lady  from  your  outrage- 
ous interpretation  of  justice  to  suit  the  unknown 
quantity  of  your  violence,  we  would  have  accom- 
plished it  at  the  risk  of  any  danger  which  might 
have  occurred. 

222 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"We  make  no  cowardly  pretenses.  And  here 
is  the  hand,  and  this  the  gleaming  dagger  I  now 
hold  aloft,  which  on  my  soul  I  had  not  meant  to 
use  on  that  good  Bishop,  but  he  found  me  trans- 
gressing and  I  struck  for  my  liberty.  My  hand  hav- 
ing been  steeped  in  blood,  relentlessly  again  would 
I  have  deluged  it  by  taking  the  life  of  Porpoise 
Shorty  had  not  my  chief  cried  a  halt.  And  my  chief, 
my  noble  chief,  afterwards  suffered  the  agonies  of 
death  from  the  culprit  he  saved.  A  wound  meant 
for  me  nearly  ended  his  life,  from  Shorty  Porpoise's 
self-cocker. 

"Much  to  the  commendation  of  Shorty  Porpoise, 
his  first  act  of  gratefulness  was  in  helping  bury  the 
noble  animal  he  had  slain  when  his  master  was 
shot — and  then  helped  to  nurse  the  chief  back  to 
life  and  giving  him  half  of  his  fabulously  rich  gold 
mine  of  which  the  late  periodicals  had  been  teem- 
ing. 

"Ah,  Rudolph,  my  beloved  chief,  I  see  the  kind- 
ling of  wrath  in  the  eyes  of  this  vengeful  throng, 
which  but  a  moment  ago  had  flickered  out,  is  be- 
ginning to  flame,  and  I  replace  my  dagger  in  its 
scabbard  that  Hidalgo  may  be  true  to  his  promise 
— but  worthy  chief  to  save  Hidalgo  from  dangling 
by  his  neck  in  the  air,  to  make  food  for  the  vul- 
tures, he  must  resort  to  other  artifice  or  means. 

"Fare-the-well,  beloved  chieftain,  and  the  angel 
lady  by  your  side.  Hidalgo's  spirit  will  soon  join 
the  crusade  to  gain  a  royal  jurisdiction  in  the  Holy 
223 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

Kingdom."  Raising  a  vial  to  his  lips  he  drained 
to  the  dregs  its  contents — and  another  tragedy  had 
been  enacted. 

"The  Bishop,  having  been  avenged  by  the  power 
invisible,  the  people  settled  into  lethergic  quietude. 

Hope,  having  revived,  heard  Hidalgo's  interces- 
sion and  was  with  her  sisters,  who  had  rallied  to 
his  assistance. 

Rudolph,  with  deep  lines  of  sorrow  depicted  on 
his  face,  ignoring  the  multitude,  said :  "Miss  Hope, 
you  must  know  that  I  love  you.  Life  is  nothing 
unless  I  can  claim  you  as  my  own.  In  the  midst 
of  this  mourning  give  me  the  right  to  protect 
you.  If  your  love  is  responsive  and  you  acquiesce, 
place  your  hand  in  mine." 

Receiving  her  hand,  he  said:  "So  mote  it  be, 
and  we  will  have  the  judge  unite  us,  that  as  hus- 
band and  wife  we  can  attend  the  obsequies  of  this 
man,  who,  though  of  a  warped  growth  of  mind, 
suffered  death  to  save  us." 

"'Uncle's  Sacred  Coin,'  Rudolph,"  said  Hope, 
"can  still  be  used  to  carry  out  the  Bishop's  plans." 

"Yes,"  he  answered,  "and  I  will  unite  much  of 
my  blood  earned  gold  to  increase  the  magnitude." 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

"Shovel  it  in,  boys ;  shovel  it  in,  for  every  scoop- 
ful  of  that  dirt  contains  morsels  of  that  golden  sub- 
stance the  whole  world  is  raving  over. 
224 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Here,  Jimmie ;  hand  me  that  crucible ;  this  gravel 
looks  powerful  rich,  so  here  goes  more  quicksilver 
to  catch  every  mite  of  gold  dust  before  it  is  whirled 
off.  Jo,  go  and  lower  the  gate  a  little;  this  water 
is  rushing  too  rapidly;  while  you,  Billie,  will  have 
to  fork  the  rock  out  of  those  boxes  all  fired  fast 
to  keep  those  riffles  clear,  or  you  will  run  gold, 
quicksilver  and  all  into  the  tailings. 

"Hold  to  it,  boys.  Shovel  it  in  while  there  is  a 
good  head  on.  That  is  right!  Hold  to  it,  laddies. 
This  clean-up  is  sure  to  make  a  big  showing,  but 
I  am  not  going  to  get  sentimental  over  it,  as  I  did 
the  $4000  one  I,  myself,  took  down  to  the  mint, 
but  haven't  had  the  heart  to  go  since. 

"It  wasn't  much,  but  I  got  mighty  rattled  over 
it.  Still,  boys,  between  you  and  me,  I'd  rather  it 
went  into  honest  deals. 

"It  is  strange  I  never  heard  from  that  lady,  Miss 
Faith  Fairchild,  about  that  money. 

"I'll  bet  two  big  red  apples,  and  pay  if  you  win, 
that  she  got  robbed  or  swindled  out  of  it,  and  felt 
sort  of  sheepish  to  let  me  know. 

"Say,  boys,  there  comes  a  female  all  dressed  in 
black.  I  hope  nobody  is  dead,  for  I  don't  like  to 
see  mourning.  I  wonder  if  she  is  waiting  for  some 
one,  as  she  has  stopped. 

"Maybe  she  is  timid  to  come  alone  to  us  miners. 
She  does  not  know  that  we,  diggers  in  the  mine, 
will  fight  to  a  finish  with  lock,  stock  and  barrel, 
225 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

and  all  the  weapons  we  can  get  to  protect  the  purity 
of  a  good  woman. 

"Well,  she'll  have  to  wait  a  spell  until  the  water 
begins  to  slack.  Charlie,  get  a  pan  and  sample  the 
tailings.  I  want  to  get  it  all  this  time,  before  I 
make  the  shipment,  and  it  looks  as  though  it  was 
going  to  be  a  mighty  big  one. 

"And  I'll  bet  too  big  red  apples — I'm  mighty  glad 
I  bought  the  whole  sackful,  as  I  like  to  pay  my 
debts — that  those  pesky  robbers  don't  get  their 
hands  on  this  pile,  either.  But  they  were  mighty 
close  on  my  tracks  when  I  took  that  other  lump 
down. 

"Why,  boys,  as  you  were  not  with  me  then,  I'll 
tell  you — a  lone  highwayman  suddenly  stepped  out 
from  behind  a  big  chapparal  shrub  by  the  wayside 
of  the  stage  road  in  front  of  the  four  horses,  with 
a  piece  of  blue  denim  overall  stuff  for  a  mask,  with 
a  rifle  leveled  at  us  and  called  out  in  a  command- 
ing tone  to  halt.  The  dumbfounded  driver,  not 
pulling  up  quick  enough,  the  trigger  snapped  and 
whizz  went  the  bullet  between  the  rearing  animals, 
never  touching  a  hair,  and  a  sharp  whirring  hiss 
sounded  in  our  ears  as  it  passed  between  us,  and 
'caplunk !'  went  right  through  the  back  of  the  stage. 

"It  showed  he  was  a  master  hand  at  the  business, 
and  an  old  one,  too,  for  quick  as  lightning,  he  cov- 
ered us  in  range  at  the  same  instant  eyeing  us, 
loudly  shouting,  'Throw  out  the  express  box  and 
get  you  from  there  with  hands  up.' 
226 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"I  can  tell  you,  boys,  it  was  pretty  ticklish,  for 
it  was  a  mighty  close  shave,  and  we  did  not  clam- 
ber, but  piled  out  of  that  vehicle  mighty  fast,  and 
soon  stood  as  though  supplicating  heaven  to  re- 
member all  our  good  deeds  and  let  the  bad  ones 
slide  by. 

"But  I  could  not  be  quite  as  devout  as  I  might 
had  I  not  have  had  that  currency  fitted  in  the  lining 
of  my  coat  and  tailor  stitched  as  neatly  as  when 
new. 

"But,  there,  the  water  is  slackening  now,  and  you 
have  done  well,  my  lads,  so  when  it  runs  low  just 
take  it  easy  while  I  go  and  have  a  little  chat  with 
the  lady,  and  see  what  is  wanting." 

"Good  afternoon,  Uncle.  I  suppose  you  do  not 
know  me?" 

"Know  you?  Why,  bless  your  soul,  you  are  Miss 
Faith  Fairchild.  Do  you  imagine  that  I,  who  have 
worked  mines  with  seven  hundred  men  under  my 
employ  at  a  time,  and  have  known  them  years  after 
on  meeting  in  the  street,  that  I  could  not  remember 
the  face  of  a  lovely  woman?" 

Still  retaining  the  hand  she  had  extended  in  wel- 
come greeting,  he  continued: 

"I  am  glad  to  see  you  again,  and  that  you  have 
not  forgotten  the  familiar  old  cognomen,  'Uncle/ 
which  my  best  friends  call  me  by.  But  you  have 
changed  woefully.  You  look  worn  and  weary,  and 
pardon  me,  if  I  say  old,  too,  for  I  am  an  outspoken 
man  and  mean  no  slander  or  insult,  either." 
227 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Thank  you,  Uncle,  I  believe  you.  You,  too, 
have  changed.  But  the  unreserved  ravages  of  age 
have  no  dishonor  attached  to  it." 

"You  are  right,  Miss  Faith.  Neither  has  sorrow 
and  you  look  as  though  you  have  had  your  share 
of  it." 

"Yes,  Uncle,  and  if  you  can  spare  the  time,  I  will 
as  graphically  as  possible  tell  you  what  trials  I  have 
encountered." 

"Go  on,  Miss  Faith,  the  boys  have  had  a  pretty 
tough  go  all  the  morning  to  get  that  gravel  through 
while  the  water  was  plenty  so  will  be  glad  to  lay  by 
awhile." 

Whereupon  Faith,  without  reserve,  enumerated 
the  adventures  attendant  to  the  investment  of  his 
"Sacred  twenties,"  and  as  she  finished  took  from 
her  hand  bag  a  number  of  gold  pieces,  saying: 

"Here,  Uncle,  are  a  few  of  the  coins  and  the 
only  ones  I  have  been  able  to  regain  after  having 
been  plunged  in  the  great  arena  of  avarice  with  such 
avidity.  It  took  all  my  strength  of  character  'faith' 
— to  ferret  them  out  and  rescue  even  these. 

"Uncle,  I  am  sorry  to  confess  that  I  entered  this 
great  work  with  a  selfish  reliance  in  my  own  skill 
and  faith,  which  even  the  faith  of  our  Savior  might 
not  have  accomplished." 

"And  these  are  the  coins,  Miss  Faith?  Well,  I'll 
be  switched !  Their  luster  is  lacking,  the  crown  de- 
molished, the  jeweled  words  'In  God  We  Trust/ 
erased,  and  the  eagle  has  not  even  a  claw  left. 

228 


THE    LUMP    OF    GOLD 

"Why,  Miss  Faith,  God  Almighty  knew  what  he 
was  about  when  He  created  all  of  us  mortals,  giving 
us  a  mind  and  will  of  our  own,  with  an  instinct 
to  know  right  from  wrong,  then  turning  us  loose 
to  work  out  our  own  salvation.  I  tell  you,  Miss 
Faith,  He  would  have  had  mighty  tough  rooting 
around  through  all  the  gutters,  nooks,  dens,  and 
blasted  places  of  iniquity  to  gather  up  souls  to  in- 
habit heaven. 

"Yes,  Madam,  and  He  would  find  mighty  few  to 
occupy  those  luxurious  seats,  which  must  continual- 
ly keep  His  eyes  keen  to  repair  after  all  these  ages. 
I  would  like  to  know  where  would  be  the  time  to 
sing  heavenly  anthems  to  attract  angels  to  parade 
those  golden  streets  which  must  have  been  a  heap 
of  labor  to  make,  and  an  enormous  spendature  of 
money,  let  alone  the  quantities  of  gold  it  took  to 
do  the  paving?  I  expect  that  is  the  reason  it  is  so 
scarce,  but  bless  your  heart,  Miss  Faith,  I  have  an- 
other monster  lump  almost  ready  for  Him.  Good- 
bye." 

[THE  END,] 


